ID :
98264
Tue, 01/05/2010 - 14:16
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Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/98264
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HAND HYGIENE TO COMBAT SPREAD OF FLU VIRUS?
By Zulkiple Ibrahim
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5 (Bernama) -- It is now common knowledge on how fast the H1N1 influenza had spread across the globe to the extent that forced the World Health Organisation (WHO) to declare the disease a pandemic last year.
In order to assist the control over the spread of the H1N1 (influenza A)
virus, the public should understand how the disease spread and what they can do
to minimise the chances of them being infected by this virus.
Respiratory diseases specialist Dr Anne Tan said the health authorities
believed the influenza A virus 'moved' from one individual to another the same
way as that of the seasonal flu virus.
She said influenza virus usually spread via the 'droplet infection', during
coughing or sneezing. The respiratory secretions of those with flu contain a
high number of influenza virus.
"However the respiratory secretions of those who coughed or sneezed will not
go far away from that particular person, only to about one metre away or less.
But the secretions can infect others who are located closer from this distance
(one metre) with the virus," said Dr Tan.
That is the normal method of spread for influenza, she said.
"When a person coughs or sneezes, the droplets that contain the virus can
also fall on the surfaces located nearby such as the surface of the table,
seats, stairs, railings, escalators and walls of the lift.
"When other people touched these surfaces (that have the virus), they can be
infected with the virus," she said.
Meanwhile Tan Joan Nee, the Intravenous Therapy and Infection Control
Specialist from B. Braun Medical Supplies said studies showed many individuals
touch their nose and mouth quite frequently during each hour of their daily
life.
This invited the opportunity for the virus and other germs to get into them,
she said.
According to Tan, a recent study showed washing the hands with soap and
water or handrub is effective against sessonal flu including the influenza A.
Washing both hands with normal soaps or that which contain anti-microbials
should be able to vastly reduce the number of virus and other germs present on
the hand surface but when there are no wash basins around, then hand cleansers
or handrub would be 'handy'.
"Sanitisers, handrubs and hand cleansers are also effective in getting rid
of the micro-organisms from your hands," said Tan.
Among the handrub products is the 'Softaman' from B. Braun.
B. Braun Medical Supplies Sdn Bhd's Outpatient Market division manager Wong
Liang Min said Softaman is a liquid handrub which is suitable for hand
disinfection.
"It is soft on the hands and does not bring about allergic reactions," he
said.
Softaman contains ethanol that makes virus inactive as well as 1-propanolol
that has fungicidal and bacteriocidal features, making it to be effective
against micro-organisms like virus, fungi and bacteria.
"A recent study in Switzerland found Softaman to be effective against H1N1
virus," said Wong.
According to Tan, Softaman is also good for the skin as it contains skincare
substances such as panthenol (pro-vitamin B5), bisabolol (active
anti-inflammatory agent) found in the herb chamomile) and allantoin that
provides protection to the skin.
Softaman is indicated for hand washing and acts against a number of virus
such as HIV, Rotavirus, herpes simplex and H1N1 virus as well as bacteria and
fungi.
How far can hand washing prevents infections?
Tan posed a query: "Cleanliness in hospitals also play an important role in
the control of infections. But do the healthcare personnel have enough
facilities to clean (wash) their hands?"
According to the website www.phls.org.uk, hand washing by healthcare
personnel is the most important measure in the prevention of infections in
hospitals.
In the medical fraternity, it is common knowledge that the hands are the
reservoir for bacteria and other micro-organisms and handwashing is able to
reduce the incidence of diseases.
"Clean hands is referred to as among the most effective measure against the
spread of nasochomial infections," said Tan.
But is there compliance among the healthcare givers on hand washing in
hospitals?
She said several factors contributed to the lack of compliance on this
including the hand washing agents that leave irritation and dryness on the
hands.
"Maybe there are not enough sinks and wash basins or they are located too
far away. Soaps and paper towels maybe not available. Maybe the staff are too
busy and do not have the time to stop and wash their hands.
"Not enough staff or the presence of too many patients are the other
factors. Patients who need urgent attention may also prevent the healthcare
personnel from washing their hands in order to provide the immediate assistance
to these patients," said Tan.
Wong said: "Studies have shown that the use of handrubs is able to overcome
the problem of non-compliance in hand washing in hospitals.
"Handrubs like Softaman is the best alternative for soap and water or
surgical scrubbing. It is most ideal if the healthcare personnel do not have
enough time for hand washing," he added.
-- BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5 (Bernama) -- It is now common knowledge on how fast the H1N1 influenza had spread across the globe to the extent that forced the World Health Organisation (WHO) to declare the disease a pandemic last year.
In order to assist the control over the spread of the H1N1 (influenza A)
virus, the public should understand how the disease spread and what they can do
to minimise the chances of them being infected by this virus.
Respiratory diseases specialist Dr Anne Tan said the health authorities
believed the influenza A virus 'moved' from one individual to another the same
way as that of the seasonal flu virus.
She said influenza virus usually spread via the 'droplet infection', during
coughing or sneezing. The respiratory secretions of those with flu contain a
high number of influenza virus.
"However the respiratory secretions of those who coughed or sneezed will not
go far away from that particular person, only to about one metre away or less.
But the secretions can infect others who are located closer from this distance
(one metre) with the virus," said Dr Tan.
That is the normal method of spread for influenza, she said.
"When a person coughs or sneezes, the droplets that contain the virus can
also fall on the surfaces located nearby such as the surface of the table,
seats, stairs, railings, escalators and walls of the lift.
"When other people touched these surfaces (that have the virus), they can be
infected with the virus," she said.
Meanwhile Tan Joan Nee, the Intravenous Therapy and Infection Control
Specialist from B. Braun Medical Supplies said studies showed many individuals
touch their nose and mouth quite frequently during each hour of their daily
life.
This invited the opportunity for the virus and other germs to get into them,
she said.
According to Tan, a recent study showed washing the hands with soap and
water or handrub is effective against sessonal flu including the influenza A.
Washing both hands with normal soaps or that which contain anti-microbials
should be able to vastly reduce the number of virus and other germs present on
the hand surface but when there are no wash basins around, then hand cleansers
or handrub would be 'handy'.
"Sanitisers, handrubs and hand cleansers are also effective in getting rid
of the micro-organisms from your hands," said Tan.
Among the handrub products is the 'Softaman' from B. Braun.
B. Braun Medical Supplies Sdn Bhd's Outpatient Market division manager Wong
Liang Min said Softaman is a liquid handrub which is suitable for hand
disinfection.
"It is soft on the hands and does not bring about allergic reactions," he
said.
Softaman contains ethanol that makes virus inactive as well as 1-propanolol
that has fungicidal and bacteriocidal features, making it to be effective
against micro-organisms like virus, fungi and bacteria.
"A recent study in Switzerland found Softaman to be effective against H1N1
virus," said Wong.
According to Tan, Softaman is also good for the skin as it contains skincare
substances such as panthenol (pro-vitamin B5), bisabolol (active
anti-inflammatory agent) found in the herb chamomile) and allantoin that
provides protection to the skin.
Softaman is indicated for hand washing and acts against a number of virus
such as HIV, Rotavirus, herpes simplex and H1N1 virus as well as bacteria and
fungi.
How far can hand washing prevents infections?
Tan posed a query: "Cleanliness in hospitals also play an important role in
the control of infections. But do the healthcare personnel have enough
facilities to clean (wash) their hands?"
According to the website www.phls.org.uk, hand washing by healthcare
personnel is the most important measure in the prevention of infections in
hospitals.
In the medical fraternity, it is common knowledge that the hands are the
reservoir for bacteria and other micro-organisms and handwashing is able to
reduce the incidence of diseases.
"Clean hands is referred to as among the most effective measure against the
spread of nasochomial infections," said Tan.
But is there compliance among the healthcare givers on hand washing in
hospitals?
She said several factors contributed to the lack of compliance on this
including the hand washing agents that leave irritation and dryness on the
hands.
"Maybe there are not enough sinks and wash basins or they are located too
far away. Soaps and paper towels maybe not available. Maybe the staff are too
busy and do not have the time to stop and wash their hands.
"Not enough staff or the presence of too many patients are the other
factors. Patients who need urgent attention may also prevent the healthcare
personnel from washing their hands in order to provide the immediate assistance
to these patients," said Tan.
Wong said: "Studies have shown that the use of handrubs is able to overcome
the problem of non-compliance in hand washing in hospitals.
"Handrubs like Softaman is the best alternative for soap and water or
surgical scrubbing. It is most ideal if the healthcare personnel do not have
enough time for hand washing," he added.
-- BERNAMA
