The Swiss Cheese Model
A core principle of Targeted Hygiene is that, although, for example, hand hygiene is central to all ‘Key Moments’, it must be combined with other interventions to ensure risk is contained. This is despite the fact thatsome hygiene practices may contribute more than others in reducing the overall risk.
Preventing the spread of respiratory infections
What about personal cleanliness?
The slices of cheese represent the various barriers provided by protection.
The Swiss Cheese Model shows how the barriers work together to minimise the risk of spread of infection in a population.
The holes illustrate that none of these barriers is 100% effective, however, they each help.
Keeping our homes clean i.e. dirt free does not stop spread of germs, but it helps because germs don’t survive well in clean dry places.
