Heightened knowledge about handwashing and the link to infection has made us more aware of the infections and diseases that can be spread by not washing your hands thoroughly after using the bathroom, and when preparing food for others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Noroviruses<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nNorovirus is the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis in humans and it can affect people of all ages. It\u2019s often transmitted when people don\u2019t wash their hands<\/a> and worryingly, it can spread very quickly within large groups of people in close quarters. This is why when one person gets ill, entire households or offices often catch it too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n66% people are likely to wash their hands more in the future to protect against other common viruses such as norovirus and the common cold, than before the pandemic.<\/p>\nInitial Hygiene\u2019s Global Hygiene Reset Report<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\nThe best way to stop norovirus from spreading or occurring in the first place is to always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, and then dry thoroughly, and if that is not possible to sanitise with an alcohol-based hand sanitiser <\/a>after using the bathroom, before preparing or eating food, and to avoid touching your nose and mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAirborne illnesses<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nRespiratory illnesses are usually spread via droplets which are breathed, sneezed or coughed into the air by someone who has the illness. While sneezing and coughing help to spread illnesses, poor hand washing techniques are a big culprit as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Common respiratory illnesses caused by poor hand hygiene include the common cold, influenza, chicken pox and meningitis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nosocomial infections (those originating in a healthcare setting)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nWe often hear of infections being transmitted in hospitals and this is often the result of staff and patients not washing their hands. Hospitals are, by nature, a potential source of infectious pathogens and if staff don\u2019t wash their hands between seeing patients or if people with an infection aren\u2019t practising good hand hygiene<\/a>, they can very easily pass their illness onto others.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSome of the most common nosocomial infections, which can be spread by germs on our hands include MRSA and E.coli.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hepatitis A<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nHepatitis A is a viral infection which can cause severe symptoms including problems with the liver, jaundice, abdominal pain, fever and fatigue. It\u2019s often spread via food which has been contaminated by people preparing it who haven\u2019t washed their hands after using the bathroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, digesting even microscopic traces of contaminated faecal matter<\/a> can cause transmission of the disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.initial.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/initial-GHD-2020-blog-3-image-1-768x359-170920.jpg\")
Handwashing tip: be sure to sing “happy birthday” twice while washing hands<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe impact of Coronavirus in hand hygiene practices<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Coronavirus can spread from an infected person\u2019s mouth or nose in small liquid particles when they cough, sneeze, speak, sing or breathe. Another person can then contract the virus when infectious particles that pass through the air are inhaled <\/a>at short range (this is often called airborne transmission).<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow we protect ourselves in terms of hand hygiene has become a vital part of the current world we live in. Many people now understand that hand hygiene is an essential way of protecting themselves from person-to-person transmission via hand contact and surfaces which may have been contaminated with viruses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In terms of proper hand hygiene practices, our Global Hygiene Reset Report <\/a>indicates that:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- 71% are now more fearful of the spread of germs via the surfaces they touch than before the Coronavirus pandemic.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 74% are now more concerned that other peoples\u2019 poor hand hygiene could put their health at risk than before the pandemic.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
See our range of hand hygiene solutions<\/a> to help prevent the person-to-person transmission of illnesses.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n66% people are likely to wash their hands more in the future to protect against other common viruses such as norovirus and the common cold, than before the pandemic.<\/p>\nInitial Hygiene\u2019s Global Hygiene Reset Report<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The best way to stop norovirus from spreading or occurring in the first place is to always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, and then dry thoroughly, and if that is not possible to sanitise with an alcohol-based hand sanitiser <\/a>after using the bathroom, before preparing or eating food, and to avoid touching your nose and mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Airborne illnesses<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Respiratory illnesses are usually spread via droplets which are breathed, sneezed or coughed into the air by someone who has the illness. While sneezing and coughing help to spread illnesses, poor hand washing techniques are a big culprit as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Common respiratory illnesses caused by poor hand hygiene include the common cold, influenza, chicken pox and meningitis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nosocomial infections (those originating in a healthcare setting)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
We often hear of infections being transmitted in hospitals and this is often the result of staff and patients not washing their hands. Hospitals are, by nature, a potential source of infectious pathogens and if staff don\u2019t wash their hands between seeing patients or if people with an infection aren\u2019t practising good hand hygiene<\/a>, they can very easily pass their illness onto others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some of the most common nosocomial infections, which can be spread by germs on our hands include MRSA and E.coli.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hepatitis A<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hepatitis A is a viral infection which can cause severe symptoms including problems with the liver, jaundice, abdominal pain, fever and fatigue. It\u2019s often spread via food which has been contaminated by people preparing it who haven\u2019t washed their hands after using the bathroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, digesting even microscopic traces of contaminated faecal matter<\/a> can cause transmission of the disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Handwashing tip: be sure to sing “happy birthday” twice while washing hands<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The impact of Coronavirus in hand hygiene practices<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Coronavirus can spread from an infected person\u2019s mouth or nose in small liquid particles when they cough, sneeze, speak, sing or breathe. Another person can then contract the virus when infectious particles that pass through the air are inhaled <\/a>at short range (this is often called airborne transmission).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How we protect ourselves in terms of hand hygiene has become a vital part of the current world we live in. Many people now understand that hand hygiene is an essential way of protecting themselves from person-to-person transmission via hand contact and surfaces which may have been contaminated with viruses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In terms of proper hand hygiene practices, our Global Hygiene Reset Report <\/a>indicates that:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
- 71% are now more fearful of the spread of germs via the surfaces they touch than before the Coronavirus pandemic.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 74% are now more concerned that other peoples\u2019 poor hand hygiene could put their health at risk than before the pandemic.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
See our range of hand hygiene solutions<\/a> to help prevent the person-to-person transmission of illnesses.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n