Kiss Me But Please Don’t Shake My Hand
20 Jun 2008
I’ve heard the question asked, "How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?" I have no idea. But I know that one million bacteria can fit on the point of a needle. So you don’t have to be a genius at math to know that tens of millions can be present on door knobs, telephones and the hand you shake. Health authorities recently announced a crackdown on hand washing in hospitals to prevent fatal hospital infections. But will a snooping campaign work? And what is the greatest misconception about contracting infection?
One hundred and fifty years ago, Semmelweiss, a doctor in Vienna, noticed that one in six women died of infection following childbirth. He decided it was because doctors, following autopsy, would deliver babies without washing their hands. Once routine hand-washing was adopted, the death rate plummeted. But we haven’t learned from history.
So how bad is the situation in North America? Experts say that only 40 percent of hospital workers wash their hands. That’s why each year an estimated 200,000 Canadians develop hospital infections and 8,000 die! About the same number die of breast cancer and car accidents. Now Accreditation Canada will compel hospitals and nursing homes in 2009 to audit hand hygiene.
It’s going to be an uphill battle as such proposals have failed in the past. Snooping campaigns are a tough sell. Few workers want to snitch on one another. And placing cameras in washrooms to catch non-washers is a "no, no".
A few years ago the New Orlean’s Health Department stationed student spies in washrooms during a meeting of infectious disease specialists. It’s shocking that of 500 doctors using these facilities only 69 percent washed their hands.
But there are things that we can all do whether we’re hospital located or elsewhere. It’s amazing how careless some people are about hand hygiene. How many times have you seen a person blowing his or her nose, then offering to shake your hand?
I also find it hard to enjoy a scotch and soda when a friend pats his dog, runs his hand down his tail and then puts ice in my drink. For all I know Fido may have just pooped, and I know what I’ll be drinking.
But how convinced is the general public about the value of hand washing? A survey of 2,000 people revealed that the majority believed infections are carried by air.
Not so, say the experts. They stress that conscientious hand washing is the most important habit to prevent the spread of disease-causing germs. In fact, the U.S. Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology says 80 percent of common infections are spread by hands and touching, not through the air.
Because of this misconception we often hear people say, "I have a cold so I won’t kiss you". But then they go on to shake your hand! The best solution of course would be to follow the Japanese and just bow.
Effective hand washing means it takes more than two seconds. Soap and water remains a good solution. But some complain that too much washing dries and wrinkles their skin. It’s a good excuse for not washing their hands. Some dermatologists say you can easily get around this problem by using a skin cream such as Cliniderm. This cream is formulated with a limited number of ingredients and is a rich moisturizer that’s quickly absorbed and leaves a protective barrier after hand washing. And it does not leave an oily sticky feeling on your hands.
Other dermatologists suggest using Purell soap. Still others advise an anti-bacterial skin cleanser that protect against a wide range of bacteria, yeast and molds.
My advice is to wash your hands with whatever pleases you, but wash your hands well and frequently. Remember I’d prefer my drink without Fido’s tail. And next time a friend blows his nose and wants to shake hands I’ll say, "I have a cold and don’t want to pass it on. But if you must touch me, kiss me on the cheek." A kiss on the cheek may save several days in bed.
