International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene

Home Hygiene & Health

The Leading Source of Scientific, Professional & Consumer Information
International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene

Home Hygiene & Health

The Leading Source of Scientific, Professional & Consumer Information

May 6th 2014: Prevent the spread of antimicrobial resistant germs?

The role of hand hygiene in preventing the spread of drug resistant germs has been the focus for 5th May SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands campaign. WHO urges health workers to practice good hand hygiene when caring for patients, to protect them from contracting infections in health facilities. A new review of the evidence indicates that hand hygiene practices lead to a reduction of infections caused by multidrug resistant bacteria in health facilities. For example, when hand hygiene compliance in health faciilties increases from <60% to 90%, there can be a 24% reduction in MRSA acquisition. The review can be found at http://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/MDRO_literature-review.pdf?ua=1 IFH has also prepared a review of risks associated with spread of antibiotic resistant strains in the “healthy” community and in the home : http://www.ifh-homehygiene.org/review/spread-antibiotic-resistant-strains-home-and-community-review-preparation