Why hot water hand washing is so vital

The importance of using running hot water and soap for hand washing has been reiterated by a key opinion leader in infection control. Mobile sinks can be a convenient and effective short term answer.

“Whenever we have a norovirus outbreak, one of the first things we do is remove the alcohol rubs from the wards and reinforce hand washing instructions,” says Professor Jim Gray, consultant clinical scientist at the Specialist Virology Centre – part of the department of microbiology, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

“People use alcohol rubs as a substitute to hand washing but, as we all know, they just don’t work on C-diff, norovirus or even the common cold.

“Alcohol rubs only work when they can break down lipid present in the contaminants but they’re no use on C-diff protected by sporulation or norovirus which has a protein coat. Transient organisms are only removed with soap and hot water hand washing – this has been shown statistically to decrease diarrhoeal episodes,” said Professor Gray.

The effectiveness of mobile sinks for hand washing

TEAL is helping hospitals across the country cut cross infection with its various mobile sinks for hot water hand washing which can be hired or purchased – and shipped within 24 hours of ordering.

Mike Stanley of TEAL said: “Inconvenience is often the big issue preventing good hand hygiene coupled with ignorance of when and how it should be done. The TEAL Hygienius can be placed almost anywhere, others see you using it and it’s idiot-proof so it removes most excuses people make for not washing their hands.”

Find out more…

To find out more about the Hygienius range of portable hot water hand wash units, please fill out our feedback form or telephone 0121 770 0593.