scholarly journals From the hospital toilet to the ward: A pilot study on microbe dispersal to multiple hospital surfaces following hand drying using a jet air dryer versus paper towels

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Ines B. Moura ◽  
Duncan Ewin ◽  
Mark H. Wilcox
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Microbial Contamination ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Hospital Environment ◽  
Virus Contamination ◽  
Air Dryer ◽  
Paper Towels ◽  
Hand Drying

Abstract Using a bacteriophage to represent microbial contamination, we investigated virus transmission to the hospital environment following hand drying. The use of paper towels resulted in lower rates of virus contamination on hands and clothing compared with a jet air dryer and, consequently, lower contamination of multiple hospital surfaces.

scholarly journals Microbiological Assessment of the Different Hand Drying Methods and Washroom Environment Cross-Contamination

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Fayza Kouadri
Keyword(s):  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Drying Methods ◽  
Cross Contamination ◽  
Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽  
Klebsiella Species ◽  
Hand Rubbing ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Air Dryer ◽  
Paper Towels ◽  
Hand Drying

Proper hand drying is a fundamental part of the hand hygiene process looking at optimizing the elimination of potentially pathogenic microbes. This research compared the effectiveness of three different hand drying methods—paper towels, the use of warm air dryers in stationary hands position, and the use of air drying while hand rubbing—and their potential for cross-contamination of other users and the surrounding environment. One hundred sixty samples were collected from finger pads and palms, before and after drying. The outlet of the air dryers, air current emitted from the air dryers, and washroom environment air were also tested. The study reported that paper towels were more successful in eliminating bacteria and lead to less contamination to the washroom environment compared to the air dryers. The average number of bacteria obtained from volunteers using hand air dryer while hand rubbing was significantly higher than drying with air dryer while holding hands stationary. Plates exposed to the turned-off dryer for 5 minutes gave an average of only 25 colonies/plate, while plates exposed to the air outlet of the turned-on warm air dryers provided 292 colonies/plate. Placing Petri dishes at least one meter away from the dryer in the washroom for 30 minutes gave 72.5 colonies/plate. The current research also documented frequent contamination of public washroom environments and showed dissemination of potential pathogens, including Escherichia coli (E. coli), Klebsiella species, Bacillus cereus (B. cereus), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), and coagulase-negative Staphylococci. Over 70.0% of Staphylococci were resistant to at least three antibiotics and 50.0% revealed coresistance to at least four antibiotics including penicillin, erythromycin, clindamycin, and co-trimoxazole. The method of hand drying may serve as a risk factor of cross-contamination from users to the environment and subsequent users and as reservoirs of drug-resistant bacteria in public washrooms.

scholarly journals Microbiological evaluation of different hand drying methods for removing bacteria from washed hands

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorna K. P. Suen ◽  
Vanessa Y. T. Lung ◽  
Maureen V. Boost ◽  
Cypher H. Au-Yeung ◽  
Gilman K. H. Siu
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Multiple Comparisons ◽  
Drying Methods ◽  
Hand Rubbing ◽  
Paper Towel ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Air Dryer ◽  
Paper Towels ◽  
Hand Drying

Abstract Proper drying of hands after washing is an integral part of hand hygiene. An experimental study on 30 subjects using multiple comparisons of six hand drying methods including 1) drying on own clothes, 2) drying with one paper towel, 3) drying with two paper towels, 4) drying with a warm air dryer while holding hands stationary for 20 s, 5) drying with a warm air dryer while hand rubbing for 20 s, and 6) drying with a jet air dryer until complete dryness was achieved. It aimed to determine the effectiveness of different hand drying methods for removing bacteria from washed hands, so as to identify the optimum method using minimum resources. Our study demonstrated that the use of jet air dryers is the best method to eliminate bacteria on hands, whereas drying hands on one’s own clothes is the least effective. Drying hands in a stationary position could remove more bacteria than rubbing hands when using a warm air dryer for 20 s, which mimics people’s usual hand-drying practice. No significant difference in bacteria reduction was detected between the use of one or two paper towels for hand drying; therefore, using fewer resources is recommended to maintain environmental sustainability.

scholarly journals Environmental and economic sustainability in public contexts: the impact of hand-drying options on waste management, carbon emissions and operating costs

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graziano Coller ◽  
Marco Schiavon ◽  
Marco Ragazzi
Keyword(s):  
Waste Treatment ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Public Institution ◽  
Reference Scenario ◽  
Drying Method ◽  
Alternative Scenario ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Paper Towels ◽  
Hand Drying

AbstractDue to the high density of users hosted everyday, public buildings are important producers of waste and emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Public restrooms play an underrated role in waste generation and GHG emissions, especially if paper towels are used as the hand-drying method. The choice of the hand-drying method (i.e., paper towels vs. electrical hand dryers) also affects the economic balance of a public institution, involving costs for the purchase of hand-drying materials/apparatuses, energy and waste disposal. The present paper aims at evaluating the economic and environmental impact of the introduction of electrical hand dryers (alternative scenario) in place of paper towels (reference scenario) in a public building. The paper presents a solid methodology, based on a numerical experiment approach, to identify a decision criterion for establishing the economical convenience of adopting the alternative scenario in public restrooms. Key factors affecting the choice between the proposed alternatives are presented and discussed in a dedicated sensitivity analysis. From the environmental point of view, this study evaluates the impact of each scenario in terms of GHG emissions, related to multiple waste treatment options and different electric grid mixes. Based on the experimental assumptions, the method allowed concluding that the alternative scenario becomes economically convenient when the number of daily usages (N) is > 57 ± 4. The environmental convenience of the alternative scenario is visible even at N < 10. The method here described can be successfully used to support strategic decisions for cost optimization and environmental mitigation in institutional buildings.

scholarly journals REDUCING THE NUMBER OF BACTERIAL COLONIES USING ECOCID®S (POTASSIUM PEROXYSULPHATE BASED DISINFECTANT) AT SMALL ANIMAL CLINIC

2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nataša Tozon ◽  
Majda Biasizzo ◽  
Leon Ščuka ◽  
Tamara Potočnik ◽  
Marjeta Redek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Clinical Study ◽  
Microbial Contamination ◽  
Small Animal ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Microbiological Testing ◽  
Sources Of Infection ◽  
Time Required ◽  
Paper Towels ◽  
Reduced Time

A clinical study has been conducted to test the efficacy of Ecocid® S, a biocidal agent. The active substance is potassium peroxysulphate and is used in clinical practice after the mechanical cleaning of various surfaces that act as potential sources of infection transmission. We determined 29 swabbing points, from which 87 samples were collected with cotton swabs. Swabs were submitted for microbiological testing to evaluate microbial contamination before cleaning, and before and after disinfection with Ecocid® S. We submitted 63 swabs from 21 swabbing points for further statistical analysis. Five swabs were excluded because the presence of bacteria in the swabs before disinfection had not been determined. The clinical study on the efficacy of Ecocid® S disinfectant showed that it is effective with an average reduction in contamination of 95.75%. The disinfectant was also active with a significantly reduced time of action: it was removed with dry paper towels from all sampling points, except the floor scales, only 5 to 10 minutes after application. The time required for the proper preparation of examination tables and other equipment in clinical practice is of vital importance for a smooth workflow.Key words: animals; disinfection; potassium peroxysulphate; Ecocid® S ZMANJŠANJE ŠTEVILA BAKTERIJ PO UPORABI RAZKUŽILA ECOCID®S (RAZKUŽILO NA OSNOVI KALIJEVEGA PEROKSISULFATA) V PROSTORIH KLINIKE ZA MALE ŽIVALIPovzetek: S klinično študijo smo želeli ugotoviti učinkovitosti biocidnega razkužila ECOCID®S. Aktivna snov v razkužilu je kalijev peroksisulfat, ki se na klinikah uporablja za razkuževanje različnih površin, ki predstavljajo ključna mesta za prenos okužb, po njihovem mehaničnem čiščenju. Določili smo 29 vzorčnih mest, na katerih smo z uporabo bombažnih brisov odvzeli 87 vzorcev. Z mikrobiološkim testiranjem smo ugotavljali stopnjo kontaminacije pred čiščenjem, ter pred in po razkuževanju z ECOCID®S. Za statistično obdelavo smo uporabili 63 rezultatov z 21 vzorčnih mest. Pet rezultatov je bilo izločenih iz obdelave, ker je bila že pred razkuževanjem stopnja kontaminacije pod mejo detekcije uporabljene metode. S klinično študijo učinkovitosti razkužila Ecocid®S smo ugotovili povprečno 95,75 % zmanjšanje števila kontaminantov po uporabi razkužila. Razkužilo je bilo učinkovito tudi ob skrajšanem času delovanja le 5 do 10 minut po nanosu. Zaradi zagotavljanja tekočega dela na kliniki je izredno pomemben čas, ki je potreben za ustrezno pripravo površin in druge opreme za pregled živali, zato je razkužilo Ecocid® S primerno za uporabo na veterinarskih klinikah, saj hitro in učinkovito zmanjša bakterijsko kontaminacijo.Ključne besede: živali; dezinfekcija; kalijev peroksisulfat; Ecocid® S

scholarly journals Introducing Namaste Care to the hospital environment: a pilot study

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 354-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberley St John ◽  
Jonathan Koffman
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Hospital Environment

Effectiveness and feasibility of using a physical barrier device in reducing rates of microbial contamination of sphygmomanometer cuffs

2011 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 241-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nitin Bhanot ◽  
Sriharsha Rao ◽  
Shobha Sharma ◽  
Edmond S Malka ◽  
Monica Ghitan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Bacterial Contamination ◽  
Microbial Contamination ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Intervention Period ◽  
Physical Barrier ◽  
Intervention Phase ◽  
Barrier Device ◽  
Disposable Plastic

phygmomanometers are frequently contaminated with bacteria and are implicated in the transmission of microbes. A pilot study was conducted to determine the effectiveness and feasibility of using a physical barrier device in reducing rates of microbial contamination of sphygmomanometer cuffs. Blood pressure recordings were made with and without a disposable plastic device on healthy individuals to ensure that it did not interfere with the accuracy of readings. Baseline rates of microbial colonisation of sphygmomanometer cuffs were obtained over a six week period. For six weeks the device was applied to patients’ arms before measuring blood pressure, and sphygmomanometer cuffs were recultured during the intervention period. No difference was found in blood pressure recordings with and without the device. No difference in rates of bacterial contamination was observed during the intervention phase of the study. A disposable plastic device acting as a physical barrier may not reduce surface contamination of sphygmomanometer cuffs.

Microbial contamination of light curing units: a pilot study

2010 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 217-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Janoowalla ◽  
K. Porter ◽  
ACC Shortall ◽  
FJT Burke ◽  
RL Sammons
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Microbial Contamination ◽  
Light Curing
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