In the wake of the COVID-19 global pandemic, there has been a more intense focus on the importance of hand-washing. But did you know that how you dry your hands if poorly washed could potentially spread germs to clothing and other surfaces?
Studies show that high-speed air dryers leave more contamination on poorly washed hands compared to paper towels. During the hand drying process, the dryers can also spread germs onto your clothing which ultimately transfers more bacteria to other surfaces.
In order to gain a better understanding of the impact of hand drying when it comes to hand hygiene, researchers conducted an experiment to help them learn the role of different hand drying methods in spreading germs beyond the restroom.
This study, which was published in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, found high levels of contamination on the study participants and commonly used surfaces following hand drying with high-speed dryers which led researchers to question whether air dryers should be used in healthcare settings. This is due to the probability that the remaining germs will transfer to other surfaces via contaminated hands and clothes.
On average, the contamination levels on surfaces that the study participants touched were ten times higher after using an air dryer to dry their hands than they were with paper towels.
The research also found greater microbial transfer to the study participants’ aprons. This transfer of germs to their clothes after using the air dryer also contributes to the spread of germs.
Researchers conducted this study in a healthcare setting and the results provided valuable lessons for healthcare organizations that use high-speed dryers in their restrooms.
When you’re looking to keep your healthcare facility germ-free and clean, count on the expert team at BRAVO!
Past research has found that recommended hand-washing practices for healthcare professionals aren’t followed the majority of the time. That means you need a little extra help when it comes to keeping your environment sanitary—especially in today’s world. When you’re looking to keep your health care facility germ-free, count on the expert team at BRAVO! to deliver a higher level of cleaning and disinfection. Contact us today to learn more at 866-642-7286 or www.bravobuildingservices.com