Latest news with #handwashing
Gizmodo
16 hours ago
- Health
- Gizmodo
Hidden Sensors Reveal Filthy Truth About Handwashing in Hospital Bathrooms
Here's something that will make you lose just a bit more faith in humanity—or at least reach for some hand wipes. New research shows that even in hospitals, a substantial number of people aren't bothering to wash their hands. Scientists from the University of Surrey in England led the study, installing sensors near hospital toilet and sink pipes to keep track of people's handwashing. Nearly half of toilet users skipped the sink after flushing, they found. The researchers say more effective strategies are needed to remind and convince people of the importance of handwashing, particularly in high-risk environments like hospitals. Scientists Capture the Spray From a Flushing Toilet in All Its Disgusting Glory Previous studies have tried to analyze how rigorous people are about handwashing in hospitals and other settings, but they've been limited. Some have relied on asking people to self-report their hygiene habits, for instance, which might incentivize more than a few to fudge the truth. The researchers decided to take a different approach. They connected sensors to toilet and sink pipes that could objectively and non-intrusively detect if and when they were being used. The sensors work by measuring the temperature in the pipes and nearby air; when either cold or hot water passes through the pipes, the temperature sharply changes relative to its surroundings, indicating use. The researchers teamed up with the Bispebjerg Hospital in Denmark to conduct their study (aptly named the 'FLUSH. WASH. PROTECT.' study). For 19 weeks, they tracked people's handwashing behaviors at two public restrooms in the hospital, ultimately recording more than 2,600 flushes. Nearly 44% of the time after flushing, people steered clear of handwashing. At times, non-adherence was even worse, with over 60% of people not handwashing during certain weeks. Non-handwashing was also more common at the start and end of the day and during typical meal times. The team released its findings last week on the Open Source Framework. 'People may assume handwashing is second nature by now—especially in hospitals and post-covid-19—but our data paints a different picture,' said lead author Pablo Pereira-Doel, co-leader of the Human Insight Lab at the University of Surrey's Business School, in a statement from the university. Mosquitoes Have Mixed Feelings About Soap, Study Finds Low rates of handwashing can, of course, make it easier for doctors, patients, and visitors to inadvertently spread dangerous infections to already vulnerable people, including drug-resistant superbugs. Some studies have suggested that certain interventions, like clear signs, can modestly boost handwashing at hospitals, at least temporarily. But given the results here, it's likely we'll need to do a lot more to consistently improve people's hand hygiene. 'These findings are worrying but not surprising. Even simple behaviors like handwashing can lapse without reinforcement. In hospitals, lapses like these can have serious consequences—for patients and for the wider healthcare system. It's time we moved beyond posters and hand gel stations to more effective behavioral strategies,' said study author Carrie Newlands, Lead for Clinical Skills at the University of Surrey's School of Medicine, in a statement. In the meantime, I wouldn't blame you (or myself) for avoiding the standard handshake more often. And just in case anyone needs it, here's the proper technique for handwashing, courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Nearly half of hospital toilet users skip handwashing, study says
Almost one in two of people that use a hospital toilet do not wash their hands, according to new research from the University of 19-week study, in partnership with Bispebjerg hospital in Denmark, put sensors on toilet and sink pipes to monitor hygiene 2,636 flushes, it revealed 43.7% (1,153 flushes) of people using a hospital toilet skipped handwashing, with figures peaking at 61.8% on certain assumptions that handwashing may be "second nature" after Covid-19, Dr Pablo Pereira Doel from the University of Surrey said this behaviour could "directly affect patient safety". The study noted that handwashing figures were especially down at the start and end of each day, including typical Benjamin Gardner, from the University of Surrey, said: "Strategies that raise awareness at the crucial point in a bathroom visit and easily understood messaging about how to wash effectively – like singing Happy Birthday twice over – can help people form handwashing habits that last."Guidance from NHS England says handwashing is one of the easiest ways of preventing food poisoning and other illnesses, such as the flu, especially in hospital settings."These findings are worrying but not surprising," Prof Carrie Newlands from the University of Surrey Newlands wants visual reinforcements, such as posters and hand-gel stations, to be replaced by "more effective behavioural strategies".
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The Clever Handwashing Trick That Cuts Germs Way More Than You Think
The Clever Handwashing Trick That Cuts Germs Way More Than You Think originally appeared on Parade. Time to rip off a pretty gross band-aid: There are far too few of us who wash our hands as often (or as well) as we after the COVID-19 pandemic (which, for people with compromised immune systems or other pre-existing conditions placing them at high risk for complications, is ongoing and still very real), one study estimated that about 25% of adults forget to wash their hands after using the bathroom. They also forget to wash their hands before and after preparing food and after coughing, sneezing or blowing their noses. Another study found that while 92% of adult participants claimed to always wash their hands in public bathrooms, only 77% were observed doing that. (Liars!)If you need a refresher on why washing your hands is important, here are some statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Washing your hands after using the restroom can reduces the number of people who get sick with diarrhea by as much as 23% to 40%., handwashing can reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses like colds by 16% to 21%, and proper handwashing can reduce the amount of school kids miss due to gastrointestinal illness by 29% to 57%.Now that we've stoked some fear and motivation to lather up (we hope), here's how to do it properly, including the crucial step that most people skip.🩺SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week💊 "As the associate medical director of infection prevention at our hospital, I cannot overstate the importance of hand hygiene. Hand hygiene is one of the most important measures for preventing the spread of infection, but it also needs to be done properly," , infectious disease expert and associate director of infection prevention at UT Southwestern, tells Parade. According to Dr. Kang, the exact proper handwashing steps are: Using warm or cold water, wet your hands. Turn off the tap. Apply soap. Lather well and wash for at least 20 seconds, including the back of hands, between fingers and beneath nails. Rinse well. Dry your hands thoroughly. "Hand drying is just as important as handwashing," she stresses. Related: You're also probably not washing your hands enough. According to , chief medical officer at American Family Care, you should give your hands a scrub in the following situation: Before, during and after preparing food Before eating food Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick Before and after treating a cut or wound After using the toilet After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing After touching an animal or animal waste After handling pet food or pet treats After touching garbage Related: According to doctors and infectious disease experts, making sure your hands are dry is crucial to keep bacteria from lingering on our hands, and most of us are neglecting a key part: drying between our fingers."Drying between fingers is very important. There is a high density of bacteria on the skin, with bacterial counts ranging from 5,000 to 5 million colony-forming units per square centimeter," , infectious disease specialist, epidemiologist and assistant professor of infectious diseases at Yale School of Medicine, tells Parade. "No part of the human skin is spared, particularly the hands, and deep skin crevices trap 10% to 20% of skin flora. When we don't dry our hands, the residual moisture contributes to bacterial transfer. This has been shown in studies where residual moisture determined the level of bacterial transfer to environmental surfaces."Translation: If you don't dry between your fingers, your hands are still probably pretty dirty, even if they look If you've ever been in a public bathroom and had to choose between paper towels and a hand dryer, let it be known: Infectious disease experts generally say to opt for the paper towels (we're deeply sorry to the planet)."What is most important is that your hands are dried completely regardless of the method," Dr. Kang tells us. "Overall, studies vary on what is the most effective method of drying hands. In addition, it should be noted that studies that have compared different methods of drying hands focus on the concentration of microbes, not just disease-causing germs, on hands. In high-risk settings such as in healthcare, paper towels are recommended, as studies show that using paper towels spreads fewer microbes and minimizes any potential risk of cross-contamination."Related: "Disposable paper towels are recommended," Dr. Datta concurs. One should gently pat the skin dry rather than rubbing. Cloth towels and hot air dryers may also be used. However, reusable towels should be avoided." (Feel free to show this to your mom so she feels justified in having "show towels" in the bathroom that you're never allowed to touch.) "Reusable hand towels are not recommended, especially in shared or public spaces, because they can harbor and spread bacteria if they're not washed and replaced after each use," Dr. Barlow explains. "A damp towel provides an ideal environment for bacterial growth, and reusing the same towel between people increases the risk of cross-contamination. Similar to drying your hands on reusable towels, drying them on your clothes is also not a good option, as they can collect germs throughout the day." Dr. Datta offers another crucial step: "After drying hands, turn off the faucet using a paper towel. This is important to prevent recontamination of the hands." You may want to use one to open the door to exit as well. Up Next:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "Who washes hands after using the bathroom?" American Journal of Infection Control. Dr. Benjamin Barlow, MD Dr. Rupak Datta, MD, PhD, MPH Dr. Minji Kang, MD The Clever Handwashing Trick That Cuts Germs Way More Than You Think first appeared on Parade on Jul 3, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
CBC
28-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
'How's my technique?' Your handwashing habits still need work
A Canadian microbiologist says pandemic handwashing habits likely didn't stick. An Ottawa hospital is turning to technology to make sure they get better.
CBC
28-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
It takes more than a pandemic to make good handwashing habits stick
You've likely let your handwashing habit slide as the pandemic moved out of the spotlight. Jason Tetro doesn't like it, but he understands. The Canadian microbiologist and handwashing evangelist said the COVID-19 health crisis helped focus people's minds on proper hand hygiene, but even as early March 2020 he was predicting a backslide once the immediate threat of a new virus faded. Surveys on handwashing trends suggest Tetro was right. "I feel vindicated, but at the same time it's really depressing," he said. Tetro, who wrote The Germ Cod e and The Germ Files, said high-touch surfaces like door handles, shared office equipment and cellphones still carry the risk of microbes, so people should wash their hands or at least use sanitizer after touching them. "Unfortunately, a lot of people simply are choosing not to do that because they don't think that there's any COVID there, so they're not going to do it anymore," he said. A pre-pandemic study from the International Journal of Epidemiology yielded the nauseating statistic that only about 51 per cent of people in wealthy countries with greater access to handwashing facilities wash their hands with soap after "potential fecal contact." While there hasn't been a comparable study, a recent National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) survey in the U.S. found 48 percent of adults admitted to forgetting or choosing not to wash their hands at key moments, like after visiting grocery stores, restaurants or health-care facilities. While the methodology used in that survey was different, you might take some relief from the fact that 69 per cent of American adults reported they wash their hands after using the bathroom. But even after the world ground to a halt over a contagious respiratory virus, only one-third report washing their hands with soap after coughing or sneezing. The NFID's campaign says handwashing can help prevent 80 per cent of infectious disease. That message was amplified with signage, social media posts and hand sanitizing stations during the pandemic, but Tetro said it's now common to find those hand sanitizing dispensers empty. "Those nudges were fantastic during the pandemic, but when you take those nudges away you're inadvertently saying that maybe hand hygiene isn't important anymore," he said. "If you're not going to fill them, then take them off the walls." A Canadian survey in 2021 reported more than 90 percent of participants were washing their hands more frequently due to the pandemic, with 63 percent strongly agreeing with that statement. A hospital's handwashing helper Even health-care workers weren't immune from waning hand hygiene, according to a study of Ontario hospitals published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Tetro said more recent studies have shown a net improvement among health professionals. To shore up those gains, The Ottawa Hospital's Civic campus is using 3D imaging sensors installed in the ceiling of their transitional care ward to keep up those nudges, and it's led to a sustained increase in handwashing. The artificially intelligent monitoring systems (AIMS) platform has been programmed to recognize proper handwashing technique. "There's a light, it's that reminder and it just triggers something in your brain," said Sybile Delice-Charlemagne, clinical manager in the hospital's transitional care unit where the "nodes" have been installed for nearly six months. "As I'm washing my hands, I wait for the light to turn green." The nodes are networked to track handwashing as busy staff move from room to room, allowing them to scrub with sanitizer while they walk. "They have an abundance of things to do," said Scott Delaney, CEO of Lumenix, the Ottawa-based company behind AIMS. "Our ability to provide assistance along the way is what is providing that sustained change," he said. Delaney said the system has dramatically slowed potentially deadly outbreaks wherever it's installed. "We've been able to decrease hospital-acquired infections or outbreaks in the wards we're installed [in] by greater than 90 per cent, as well as deliver a 41 per cent increase in hand-hygiene compliance," said Delaney. Delaney said the technology will soon be adopted by the McGill University Health Centre, and will be expanded at The Ottawa Hospital — all while preserving the privacy and anonymity of the people it monitors.
