The Facts and Science

Behind Hand Washing

DSM_College_1

Dr. Shiva C. Aithal

Dept. of Microbiology,
D.S.M. College, (NAAC accredited B++ with CPE Status)
PARBHANI – 431 401
Maharashtra
e-mail: shiva_aithal@rediffmail.com
 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

• Why should we clean our hands?

• Barriers to frequent handwashing.

• How do hands become contaminated?

• To create a awareness which I hope you all

will remember for your lifetime.

• You all will spread this awareness.

Why is cleaning your hands so important?

• Studies show that infection causing bacteria are

frequently spread through the hands

 One gram of human feces can contain

10 million viruses and one million bacteria

 One gram of garden soil harbors 10,000,000 (107)

bacteria including viruses which include both
harmful and non harmful
 SALMONELLOISIS
Bacillary dysentery
Typhoid fever

SHIGELLOISIS and
GIARDIOSIS
Diarrhea, fever,
vomiting, and
abdominal cramps

• THESE DISEASES ARE SPREAD THROUGH THE

INGESTION OF VANISHING AMOUNTS OF
FECAL MATERIAL.
• THESE DISEASES CAN BE PREVENTED WITH
GOOD HAND WASHING?
 Why is compliance
with recommended
hand washing so
poor?
Some reasons…………………….
 1. People with heavy workloads

A recent study showed

that the busier workers

Handwashing
are, the less likely they

Compliance
are to wash their hands
when recommended

Increasing Workload
 2. Location of Sinks

• Sinks not located

• Sinks located but not functioning

• Sinks inconveniently located

 3. Damage to Skin

Frequent hand
washing causes
skin irritation and
dryness.

In the winter cracks

in their skin that
cause bleeding
 4. Many people don’t realize they have
germs on their hands (Hands Look Clean)

Workers can get 100s or 1000s of bacteria on

their hands by doing simple tasks, like

Culture plate showing growth

of bacteria 24 hours after a
worker placed her hand on
the plate
Fomite: Any inanimate object or
substance capable of carrying
infectious organisms (such as germs
or parasites) and hence transferring
them from one individual to
another.
 Percent of organisms Organisms
harbored on unattended Skin

13-25%

40%

30-39%
 Does handwashing really
reduce the spread of bacteria?

YES!
A scientific study found that when people did
not wash their hands between contacts, have
more bacteria than people who washed their
hands with an antimicrobial soap.

Several other studies also show that washing

hands between contacts reduces the spread of
bacteria .
 New CDC guidelines

• New guideline developed by the Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and
infection control organizations recommends
use of alcohol or disinfectant-based hand rub
 When should you wash your
hands with soap and water?

Wash your hands with plain soap and

water, or with antimicrobial soap and
water if:
• Your hands are visibly soiled (dirty)
• Hands are visibly contaminated body
fluids
• Before and after eating
• After using lavatories
 ‘Glow Germ demo,’ to demolish the myth,
‘Visible clean is safe clean’ and demonstrate
‘Water is not enough.’

Bacteria glowing on
skin after applying the
“Glow Lotion”
To demonstrate
bacteria exist after a
casual hand wash

A composition is formulated with generally regarded as safe (GRAS) ingredients

for use as a non-radio-active simulant of radiological contamination.
The compositions can be used for training exercises, testing, and research
studies, and they can be applied safely to human skin.
Discovery of importance of HANDWASHING

Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis (1840) Austria.

 FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT

http://www.lifebuoy.com/swasthya_chetna.html

http:// www.handhygiene.org

THANK YOU