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Hospital acquired infections account for 21 per cent of NHS England’s bed capacity – due to overstaying patients.

Not only does this cost NHS England £2.7 billion per year, but accounts for 28,500 patient deaths per year, and 80,000 days of healthcare worker absence due to illness.

With October 13-19 marking International Infection Prevention Week,  North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust has all the hand hygiene and infection prevention know-how at its finger tips.

The Trust’s Infection Prevention and Control team will be taking the important bug busting message across Peterborough City, Stamford & Rutland and Hinchingbrooke hospitals.

The roadshow, which kicks off in Peterborough on Monday 7 October , when staff, visitors and patients will have the chance to test how good their handwashing technique is.

 

Infection Prevention and Control Nurse, Michelle Newberry said: “The Semmelweis machine uses a UV glow, it does not monitor how dirty your hands are but measures your technique, so you rub the UV gel in using the same technique as washing your hands  and insert into the machine, this will then highlight the areas you have missed and give you a score out of 100 and useful tips to improve your technique.”

 

She added: “The IPC teams across all sites will be promoting the work of the team, which includes supporting our staff on the wards, liaising with other colleagues across the Trust and offer them – as well as our many patients and counterparts in the community – support, education, advice and care when it comes to the prevention and management of infection.

“We hope as many people as possible can find out a little bit more about our role and how to empower themselves when it comes to this important message.”

 

Other events include:   

•         Tuesday 8 October - An MRSA display and distribution of patient leaflets at PCH – at the top of the stairs approaching the first floor (Tuesday 8 October).
•           Wednesday 9 October - The handwashing machine will be in Women’s Health at PCH.
•           Thursday 10 October – Information display boards and the handwashing machine will be at Stamford & Rutland Hospital.
•           Friday 11 October – Displays at PCH focusing on CPE, a group of bacteria that have become resistant to many antibiotics, making them more difficult to treat.
• Similar events will also be mirrored at Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Huntingdon during the week.

Did you know: 

•           Bacteria can stay alive on hands for up to three hours.
•           A study showed that 21 per cent of the healthcare workers in the ICU had varying counts of Staphylococcus aureus (bacteria) on their hands.
•           The average kitchen chopping board has around 200 per cent more faecal bacteria on it than a toilet seat does!
•           Disposable paper towels are the most sanitary means of drying hands.
•           We carry a few thousand bacteria from around 150 different species on our hands.
•           Re-usable cloth towels harbour millions of bacteria.
•           The bacteria count is higher on the dominant hand.
•           Most bacteria on our hands is on the finger tips and under the nails.
•           TV remote controls are a leading carrier of bacteria.
•           Coughs travel at 60mph and a sneeze travels 100mph.