Netcare Milpark Hospital raised awareness about hand hygiene ahead of World Hand Hygiene Day on 5 May.
As patients, health practitioners and visitors entered the hospital on the day, they were given a hand hygiene demonstration and instructed to make use of the alcohol hand cleaner. Visitors were also encouraged to clean their phones and bags before entering the hospital.
Hospital general manager Marc van Heerden said, “Hands are the biggest contributors to cross infection and therefore we encourage hospitals to participate in this day in order to promote patient safety.
“Since we are a specialised facility and level 1 trauma unit, patients at our hospital are critically ill and immune-suppressed and more prone to bugs.”
He explained that throughout the year, audits were conducted across the hospital to score health practitioners regarding infection control. If they scored poorly in this regard, an action plan would need to be presented going forward.
Infection prevention practitioner Shakiera Sallie said the ultimate goal of the day was to prevent infections, particularly in patients who were at risk of cross infection.
Staff in each department were asked to comply to hand hygiene by demonstrating how to do a hand rub and thereafter sign a commitment document.
Van Heerden urged hospital visitors to adhere to hand hygiene regulations throughout the hospital by spraying their hands, adhering to infection control by making use of barrier devices such as masks and gloves where necessary and limiting the number of visitors each patient could receive.
“We also encourage residents to practise hand and nail hygiene at home after using the bathroom and before preparing food. People should also limit contact with sick people in order to prevent cross infection,” concluded Van Heerden.
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