Why are we still talking about washing hands?

I recently attended a conference of primarily healthcare workers at a conference center. In the bathroom, I observed many washing their hands appropriately after using the bathroom, but I also observed too many “blessing” their hands. By blessing, I mean turning on the water, getting the finger tips damp, turning off the water and leaving-touching door handles with hands that haven’t been adequately cleaned.

Why do I bring this up? It has been in the news from CMS and CDC that Clostridium Difficile (C-Diff) infections are on the rise. The primary vector of transmission is through the hands of healthcare workers. The primary location of transmission, according to recent reports, is nursing homes and private practice offices. Hospitals are next in line. If I didn’t know C-Diff was a spore that is in the dirt and carried by 2% of the population with a fecal oral transmission, I might not be quite as horrified by what I witnessed in the conference center bathroom.

This information is continually provided to nurses, including that C-Diff spores are resistant to alcohol gel. We are taught, observed performing and evaluated on appropriate hand hygiene. We know that appropriate friction of rubbing your hands together with soap and water to produce lather for 15 seconds (I sing one verse and the chorus of Yankee Doodle) before rinsing. If the faucet isn’t automatic, get a paper towel to dry your hands and use that towel to touch any contaminated surface (remember the faucet handles were touched by “dirty” hands when turned on!).

Why is this so important in North Texas? According to our data, the rate of C-Diff Infection in North Texas is higher than the nation. Good news is the rate has dropped 15.9% from 2010 to 2011. This is a good indication we are doing the right thing in our work place. Until we do the right thing and hold each other accountable in a restaurant, a conference center and other places where no one is watching will we start to make a difference.