TORONTO - Canadians know the importance of infection prevention, but few
are transferring that knowledge into action, the Health & Hygiene Council,
Canada said Wednesday as it called for greater awareness of how to protect
against health threats.
The council said an international survey on hygiene practices shows 90 per cent
of Canadians know hand washing is important, but only 37 per cent of Canadian
children and 44 per cent of adults wash before eating.
The survey said 80 per cent of parents in Malaysia, 79 per cent in India and 76
per cent in Italy reported their children washed their hands before meals.
Dr. Donald Low, chair of the council and chief microbiologist at Toronto's Mount
Sinai Hospital said hand washing and surface disinfection are two key areas that
need greater attention along with food safety, immunization and proper use of
antibiotics.
He said the most "bang for your buck" in prevention from illness at home comes
in the kitchen where bacteria and viruses can multiply on moist or hard
surfaces.
Low said dish cloths are growing "unsatisfactory" levels of bacteria in nine out
of 10 Canadian kitchens and 80 per cent of food-borne illnesses occur at home
because food was not handled or cooked properly.
In the past, doctors promoted washing with soap and
water but alcohol-based hand rubs are better to use on
hands that are not visibly soiled, he said. "They are
more effective at actually killing bacteria and
viruses," Low said. "They are easier on your hands so
you can do it more often without getting chafing of the
skin."
They can also be made more readily accessible, Low said.
He said 15 seconds of hand washing with soap and water
is still best for visible dirt but using an
anti-bacterial soap won't do anything regular soap and
water will do.
With cold and flu season approaching, Low said it is
"not responsible" to go into work ill.
"Someone will come into work on a Monday when they feel
lousy and Tuesday they stay home because they are
feeling so rotten but it was Monday when they were the
most infectious," Low said.
He said hygiene standards are different across age
groups, provinces and organizations and the council is
considering studying hygiene practices in daycare and
elementary schools where children are susceptible to
sharing germs.
Comprised of experts in microbiology, virology,
pediatrics, infectious disease and public health, the
council is also considering a study comparing common
household disnfectants to determine their effectiveness.
The international survey talked to 10,000 people in 10
countries, including Canada.
Source : Canwest News Service 2008
