Call to ramp up soap and water hand washing in Australia

Why it remains as “important as ever”

The emphasis was very much on soap and water hand washing for World Hand Hygiene Day – a campaign which “aims to progress the goal of maintaining a global profile on the importance of hand hygiene in health care”.

An article published on the Mirage News website in support of the event, urged “Australians to continue to practise good hand hygiene as the first-line defence to reduce the spread of harmful germs.” The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) emphasised in the article that hand washing remains as “important as ever”.

A Senior Medical Advisor to the Commission, Professor Peter Collignon AM, expressed concern at the apparent lack of hand hygiene with some.

“Some people may have become complacent with how often and how well they wash their hands, by not using enough soap and water, doing it too quickly or not hand washing at all.”

Drug resistant bacteria concerns

Hand washing is en essential way to combat multi drug resistant bacteria such as MRSA, Professor Collignon explained, with further examples given including E. coli – being “just some of many examples of common germs that are a danger to us all.”

Australians are deemed to have reduced their levels of hand hygiene compliance since the pandemic: it remains vitally important for everyone to make it an every day priority.

Appropriate hand washing techniques and occurrences are perhaps most essential in healthcare settings. The report reveals that the transmission of microorganisms such as MRSA in hospitals resulted in healthcare-associated infections that affect “more than 81,000 Australians each year”.

The good news, says the article, is that hand washing compliance in Australian medical facilities is largely admirable, with quoted data showing “almost 90% compliance” against the benchmark of 80%.

Hand Washing Curbs Germ Spread, Saves Lives »

Teal portable hand wash units – place them wherever they’re needed!

There are vehicle mounted, wall mounted, mains powered and free standing hand wash stations as well as mobile sinks for use with pre-heated hot water.

Mobile hand washing stations for medical facilities »

The Teal range of mobile sinks includes the MediWash, Hygienius and Hygienius ProWash, BigSynk, Super Stallette, TEALwash, Handeman Xtra, Compact Classic, HandSpa, CliniWash – and now the new WashStand Xtra.

How to choose the correct mobile sink »

Teal’s Australia and New Zealand distributor »

Teal’s representative for Australia and New Zealand is Transplumb, supplier of portable sinks, basins and hand washing stations.