H1N1 has increased focus on effect of hygiene on health

Nov 4 2009

H1N1 has led to increased focus on how everyday hygiene affects our health. Not only is more attention given to managing personal hygiene, but a new cleaning logic is emerging, where wiping the door knob an extra time each day is considered more important than picking up the dust in the corner.

H1N1 has made hygiene top-of-mind, particularly with business owners and operators. Employers are upgrading their washroom equipment and making efforts to educate their staff on different measures to reduce the risk of catching H1N1 and the common influenza virus. Hand hygiene as well as keeping surfaces clean and free from germs is regarded as a natural way to contain the spread of swine flu.

“H1N1 has increased the focus on how hygiene affects our health,” says Dr. Allison Aiello, assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan and Tork^® Green Hygiene Council member. “While handwashing is one of the most important ways to reduce the risk of contracting and spreading the flu virus, it is equally important to keep common objects and surfaces clean. This combination provides the best chance at preventing the spread of the H1N1 or common seasonal flu virus in one’s home or workplace.”

The influenza virus can survive on surfaces for up to eight hours and may spread when a person touches droplets, left by hands, coughs or sneezes, on hard surfaces or objects and then touches his or her mouth or nose. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that frequently touched surfaces are to be wiped clean on a regular basis.

Single-use logic when cleaning frequently touched surfaces

Viruses can survive on cloth and spread between different surfaces or objects. Due to this, one cloth should not be used over and over again. Single-use products, such as paper towels or disposable cloths, minimize the risk of germs from a contaminated object being passed on to another surface.

“Reducing the risk of cross-contamination gives cleaning yet another important part to play, besides maintaining facilities and fighting bacteria. Using single-use paper towels and detergent spray on frequently touched objects reduces the risk of cross-contamination,” says Dr. Aiello.

When using cloths instead of single-use paper towels, these should be replaced often and used separately for different areas. The Tork^® brand offers colored cloths in red, yellow, blue, green, white and grey. The cloths are durable, but it is important to replace them regularly to minimize spread.

Frequently touched surfaces that require extra attention:

• Taps and flush buttons
• Handrails
• Elevator buttons
• Shared office phones or workstations
• Door knobs
• Light switches
• Printers/copying machines
• Coffee machines

Dr. Allison Aiello’s cleaning advice to prevent cross-contamination:

• Use single-use paper towels and a detergent spray when wiping frequently touched surfaces. Dispose of the towels immediately afterwards. Use the cleaning agents that are usually used in these areas and follow the directions on the label. No additional disinfection is needed.
• If you use cloths instead of single-use paper towels, use disposable cloths or replace them regularly.
• Keep cloths for different areas separated and avoid contact between different surfaces to avoid cross-contamination. The different cloths should be easy to keep track of.
• The dryer, the safer. When washing areas like the kitchen, use a highly absorbent paper afterwards to get surfaces really dry.
• Don’t use the same cloth on several high risk objects.

Source: University of Michigan