THR Hand Hygiene Program

THR Hand Hygiene Program Raise awareness about the importance of proper hand hygiene and improve hand washing behavior in participants. Discuss the impact that bacterial and viral related illnesses (common cold, flu) have on healthcare costs and productivity. Raise awareness that “Good Health is in Your Hands!” The mission of Texas Health Resources is to “improve the health of the people in the communities we serve.” As a community we are currently experiencing a high incidence of antibiotic resistant organisms - many in the form of staph infections. Currently, the most prevalent of these is in the form of Methicillin- resistant Staphlycoccus aureus – MRSA. While the highest incidence of this is in our schools, it must be understood that, due to the highly contagious aspect of this, it can be spread to others, regardless of the setting. Those “others” may very well be your employees. In addition to this critical issue, we as a business community experience the effects of other infectious diseases such as the common cold and flu. The spread of these germs and infectious diseases could be greatly minimized by a very simple and basic practice - proper hand washing. (Verbiage below states how THR is addressing hand hygiene as a business. You may include this in your comments proactively, or use it as a response when asked what THR is doing within our workplace) Texas Health Resources is committed to safe, quality care within our organization. Internally all employees are educated and informed on proper hand hygiene techniques. The expectation is that all employees practice appropriate hand hygiene. Our organization is dedicated to this commitment, and as such have developed and implemented a hand hygiene observational approach to monitoring our own practices.

MRSA Admissions - 2000 In the last few years, hospitals within the Dallas-Ft. Worth area have reported a rising incidence of MRSA in the region. The next few slides provide a “visual” of the increase of MRSA across the region. DFW Hospital Council - 2006

MRSA Admissions - 2003 DFW Hospital Council - 2006

MRSA Admissions - 2005 DFW Hospital Council - 2006

MRSA Admissions – 2007 DFW Hospital Council – 2008

Did you know??? Germs are everywhere. Germs are invisible to the naked eye. There are 229,000 Germs per sq inch on frequently used faucet handles. The kitchen sink harbors more germs than the toilet does. The hands are the most exposed part of the body to germs.

Did you know??? The average work desk contains 21,000 germs per square inch, 400 times more than the average toilet seat!!

What Types of Germs are There? Bacteria: can reproduce outside of the body or within the body as they cause infection (like sore throats, ear infections, cavities and many more) Viruses: when viruses get inside people’s bodies, they can spread and make people sick (viruses cause chickenpox, measles, flu and many other diseases)

Types of Infections: Respiratory Infections: Skin Infections: might come from a Cold (upper RI) or Flu (lower RI) Skin Infections: Fungus: ringworm Viral: Cold Sores Bacteria: Staph Infections, MRSA

THINK ABOUT ALL THE THINGS YOU TOUCH IN ONE DAY. How many possible Germ encounters did you have in one hour?

THINK ABOUT ALL THE THINGS YOU TOUCH IN ONE DAY. How about in one day?

Hand Hygiene - Workplace Facts Hand washing is a professional workplace responsibility of everyone. More than 50% of respondents said no plan in place to prevent the spread of flu in the workplace. Approximately 40% of American workers don’t wash their hands often enough, or long enough; additionally, most employers don’t encourage hand washing in the workplace. According to National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, more than 50% of respondents said that their organization does not have a plan in place to prevent the spread of flu in the workplace. The Soap and Detergent Association’s National Cleaning Survey, stated that the average work desk contains 21,000 germs per square inch, which is 400 times more than the average toilet seat. These statistics represent examples of how we all need to take part in proper hand hygiene, in our businesses and in the community. According to a study by Charles Gerba, a microbiologist at the University of Arizona, a keyboard carries up to 3,295 germs per square inch, a computer mouse has 1,636 and a telephone harbors more than 25,000. *(Source: National Foundation of Infectious Diseases 2006) *(Source: Soap and Detergent Association National Cleaning Survey 2001) *(Source: National Foundation of Infectious Diseases 2006) *(Source: Soap and Detergent Association National Cleaning Survey 2001)

Hand Hygiene - Workplace Facts Hand washing is the first line of defense in preventing germs, viruses and infections from spreading illness and disease in the workplace. Infectious diseases, such as the common cold and flu (along with many other diseases) are commonly spread through hand-to-hand contact.* According to the Centers for Disease Control, hand washing is the first line of defense in preventing germs, viruses and infections from spreading illness and disease in the workplace. Infectious diseases, such as the common cold and flu (along with many other diseases) are commonly spread through hand-to-hand contact. *(Source: US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) 2003)

Hand Hygiene - Workplace Facts Hand hygiene is an important way to potentially reduce productivity costs resulting from employee sick-days, and business healthcare cost. 58% of respondents know of a co-worker that has come to work with the flu. 30% of respondents stated they contracted the flu virus from a co-worker. Hand hygiene is an important way to potentially reduce costs associated with lost productivity from employee sick-days and business healthcare cost. According to the National Foundation of Infectious Diseases: 58% of respondents know of a co-worker that has come to work sick or with the flu this past winter. 30% of respondents stated they have contracted the flu virus from a co-worker. (Source: National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, 2006)

How Often Are Americans Washing Their Hands? Hand Washing Habits How Often Are Americans Washing Their Hands? Survey Question asked of participants: I am going to read you a list of activities, and I’d like you to tell me how often you make it a practice of washing your hands. How often do you wash your hands after….?

Wash Your Hands: BEFORE eating, preparing or serving food. AFTER blowing your nose, when sick. AFTER using the toilet. AFTER coughing or sneezing; Germs get on hands from a sneeze… ALWAYS sneeze or cough into your elbow or sleeve.

Wash Your Hands: AFTER handling raw meat, fish, poultry and before touching any other foods. AFTER you touch animals and pets and, WHENEVER hands look, feel or smell dirty.

SCARY FACTS: Viruses can be transferred from a dry smooth surface up to 20 minutes after said surface is contaminated.

SCARY FACTS: E. Coli, Salmonella, and Bacteria can live up to two hours on surfaces like doorknobs, keyboards, and tables.

SCARY FACTS: Bacteria double in number every 20 minutes. Five Bacteria in a sandwich at 12pm will total over 10 million by 7pm.

6 Steps to Good Hand Hygiene: Wet Hands Add Soap Scrub for 15 seconds Rinse Towel Dry Turn off water with paper towel

Step One: Wet Hands with Warm Water

Step Two: Add Soap

Step Three: SCRUB (for 15 seconds) The friction used while “scrubbing” is a critical element of hand washing

Step Four: Rinse Hands Under Running Water Make sure you point your hands downward while rinsing.

Step Five: Dry Hands with a Paper Towel

Turn water off and open door using a paper towel. Step Six: Turn water off and open door using a paper towel.

Washing your hands is the first step to staying healthy!! Remember to: Toss Paper Towel in The Trash… Remember… Washing your hands is the first step to staying healthy!!

Presented by: