Hand Hygiene to Prevent the Spread of

Disease

Lynn Nakamura-Tengan

Extension Educator

What will be covered• Basic information about germs

– Types – Modes of transmission

• Importance of hand washing– When to wash– How to wash

• Alternative hand hygiene options– Products available

• Implementation in local settings

Germs-microscopic organism

• Bacteria

• Viruses

• Fungi

• Protozoa

Bacteria• a single cell • helpful, pathogenic (harmful,

causing disease), and spoilage (deteriorates food)

• balls, rods, or spirals • Salmonella, Staphylococcus

aureus, Streptococci • Some bacteria produce poisons

called toxins -Clostridium botulinum bacteria

Streptococci Bacteria

Source: National Institute of Health-NIAID

Viruses• Viruses are smaller than bacteria• Viruses are protein structures, not cells• Require a living host to survive• Highly infectious• Viruses can be rod-shaped, sphere-

shaped, or multisided, common examples:Hepatitis A, Norwalk virus, influenzavirus

Fungi• primitive vegetable• found in air, in soil, on plants, and in

water• familiar ones - mushrooms, yeast, mold,

and mildew• Some live in the human body, without

causing illness• Some are beneficial - penicillin

and yeast for fermentation

Protozoa• microscopic one-celled animals• Protozoa can be parasites or

predators• In humans, protozoa usually cause

disease• Examples: Malaria - a protozoan

parasite, Trichinia spialis (pork and wild game meats), Giardia lamblia (contaminated water and anything it contacts)

Germs: modes of transmission • Person to person

• Cuts, abrasions, wounds

• Insects – mosquito (Dengue, West Nile), flea (plague) , tick (Lyme disease)

• Water – e-coli, Cryptosporidia, Giardia and Salmonella

• Pets – dogs & cats (rabies), reptiles (Salmonella)

Germs: modes of transmission • Air - cough and sneeze

• Hands

Germ enter your body - hands• Hands to food – unwashed hands

preparing foods• Hand to hand – shaking hands• Food to hands to food – raw poultry to

ready to eat foods• Food to hands to infant – diaper

changing to infant• Nose, mouth or eyes to hand • Hands to nose, mouth, eyes

Germs enter your body - other• Insects such as mosquitoes, fleas and

ticks• Animal bites• Open cuts, abrasions, or wounds;

treat and cover wounds immediately.

Avian FluGreatest risk from handling & slaughtering

infected poultry• Do not eat sick or dead poultry• Do not touch sick or dead birds without gloves• Do not let children touch or play with sick or

dead birds or their feathers

• Do not sell or buy birds from infected area• Do not move sick or dead birds out of an

infected area• Do not drink unboiled/treated water from

areas with bird droppings • Do not swim in waters used by wild birds birds

m

Handwashing Hand hygiene is the primary measure to reduce

infections…”

Soaps - designed to clean the skin by removing dirt, oils and germs.

Antibacterial soaps - contain Triclocarbon and Triclosan, for added germ killing protection

Hand sanitizers – waterless, include a germ kill ingredient: alcohol, Triclocarbon, Triclosan

When to wash your hands• Before and after eating, drinking, smoking or

chewing tobacco products• After going to the bathroom • After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who

has gone to the bathroom • Before and after tending to someone who is sick • After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing • After touching hair, face or clothing• After handling an animal, animal parts or animal

waste • After handling garbage, cleaning products,

pesticides, fertilizers, soil• Before and after treating a cut or wound• Anytime hands look dirty

Hand washing Experiment

1. Break up into 6 groups– Liquid soap and water– Foam Soap– Water only– Alcohol sanitizer– Chlorine sanitizer– Hand wipes

2. Apply “Pretend Germ lotion”3. Clean hands as directed for your group4. Record results of your hand hygiene5. Discussion on findings

Handwashing Resources:• Clean Your Hands brochure

• Multi-lingual Handwashing poster• Germ City - When to Wash and Wash Your Hands posters• Handwashing Video by Carl Winters, UC Davies -

http://foodsafe.ucdavis.edu/FSM_Source/HTML_Source_FSM/music_videos.html

Thank youand

Happy Handwashing!