Automated hand sanitizer - Chicago, Illinois
The newly married Gonzalo Erdozain, one half of the Erdozain news pulling siblings and a pre-vet student at Kansas State, writes in a state of marital bliss:
As I walked down an aisle in Chicago's Navy Pier, I couldn't help but notice a nice little automated hand sanitizer dispenser in the middle of the wall, which just happened to be right in between both exits of the restrooms.
I didn't actually used the bathroom, but this fancy machine answered a longstanding question – more of a concern actually – I've always had: Washing my hands is pretty much useless if the guy that exits the bathroom before me doesn't and goes and touches the door's knob or handle. So, by having this on the other side, I feel a little better about having clean hands.
Burger King: Paper towels in the bathroom please
I have been working for Doug for almost 4 months now. I am happy to say that I have learned a lot.
One of these things is proper hand-washing. So every time I go to a public restroom I keep my eyes open and watch every detail.
I often notice when someone skips the hand-washing step or someone who doesn’t dry up afterwards.
Just the other day I went during my lunch break to Burger King to grab a double cheeseburger. I went to the restroom first, and when I was in one of the stalls, a woman came in with her kid, telling him to scrub his hands. I heard water running. Then they just left - but I didn’t hear any paper tearing.
Well, there wasn’t any. No, BK didn’t just run out of paper. They didn’t have a paper towel dispenser at all. Only a drier. And a very lousy one. The evidence:
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BK employees should not only wash their hands, but dry them as well.
Frustrated I left, and hesitated: Can I still eat my burger, knowing that employees (or at least the women) don’t dry their hands properly in that establishment?
No more BK cheeseburgers for me. Doug wrote in a letter:
Blow dryers should not be used because they accumulate microorganisms from toilet aerosols, and can cause contamination of hands as they are dried by the drier (Knights, et al., 1993; Redway,et al., 1994).
Every bathroom should have running water, soap and paper towel.
Check out this other BK incidence: Restaurant sinks are not bathtubs
iFSN: Hand sanitizer fact sheet
iFSN: Hand sanitizer fact sheet15.dec.07
International Food Safety Network
Andrew Stormer
foodsafety.ksu.edu
What are alcohol based hand sanitizers?
The term hand sanitizer encompasses many types of gels, wipes, foams or liquid solutions. These products typically contain ethanol, isopropanol or n-propanol in concentrations ranging from 40 to 95 per cent. The alcohol immediately destroys the bacteria and viruses that it contacts. Some sanitizers may also contain a moisturizer to help combat the dryness caused by the alcohol. Because of their ease of use and relative convenience, alcohol-based sanitizers have grown in popularity, and some people even use them as a substitute for hand washing.
How effective are hand sanitizers?
Research has shown that sanitizers are effective at killing and inactivating most bacteria and viruses. Alcohol-based sanitizers are recommended as a way to help prevent the spread of many common pathogens like tuberculosis and foodborne illnesses such as norovirus. These sanitizers are, however, not as efficient as hand washing in reducing numbers of bacterial spores, protozoan oocysts, and certain non-enveloped (non-lipophilic) viruses. Some of these viruses include HIV, Hepatitis A, and rhinovirus. It has been shown that sanitizers containing moisturizers may lead to the accumulation of more bacteria on your skin.
Past research has suggested that hand sanitizers don’t work as well on visually dirty hands. However, recent research, such as that done by Don Schaffner from Rutgers University, has shown that sanitizers can still significantly reduce the number of bacteria even with debris on the hands.
There is currently no research that shows alcohol-based sanitizers contribute to the development of resistant bacteria.
Can hand sanitizers be used as a substitute for hand washing?
The differences between hand washing and using alcohol-based sanitizers are insignificant concerning pathogenic bacteria. However, hand washing is more effective in the removal of viruses, spores and fungi. So no, hand sanitizers are not substitutes. Hand washing is still the champion of clean hands and preventing the spread of infectious diseases.
Which soap you choose will also make a difference in how clean your hands become. Recent studies have shown that soaps containing antibacterial agents do a better job at destroying colony forming units than plain soap. However, there is evidence that the overuse of such agents may lead to resistant strains.
What should I look for in a sanitizer?
When shopping for a sanitizer you should look for one containing at least 60 per cent alcohol. A sanitizer with n-propanol is generally only found in Europe, and is slightly less effective against bacteria and viruses than both ethanol and isopropanol. Ethanol is more effective against viruses than isopropanol. Isopropanol is more effective against bacteria than ethanol because it is less volatile. Because he difference between their efficacies is not significant , either one will suffice when used in an adequate concentration.
Resources:
Colorado State University, SafeFood Rapid Response Network. (2004). SAFEFOOD NEWS. Vol 8 No. 3. Hand Hygiene Revisited: Another Look at Hand Sanitizers and Antibacterial Soap. Retrieved November 1, 2007, from HYPERLINK "http://www.colostate.edu/orgs/safefood/NEWSLTR/v8n3s06.html" http://www.colostate.edu/orgs/safefood/NEWSLTR/v8n3s06.html
HYPERLINK "http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/" Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. (2003). Hand Hygiene in Retail & Food Service Establishments. Retrieved November 1, 2007, from http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~comm/handhyg.html
Mayo Clinic. (2007). Hand washing: An easy way to prevent infection. Retrieved on November 1, 2007, from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hand-washing/HQ00407
Hand Hygiene Resource Center. (2002). Selecting the right alcohol-based hand rub for your health care facility. Retrieved November 1, 2007, from HYPERLINK "http://www.handhygiene.org/downloads/Selecting.pdf" http://www.handhygiene.org/downloads/Selecting.pdf
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2001). Bacteria Factsheet. Retrieved on November 13, 2007, from http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/a2z-b.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Facts About Noroviruses on Cruise Ships. Retrieved on November 13, 2007, from http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/pub/Norovirus/Norovirus.htm
Schaffner, D.W. and K.M. Schaffner. 2007. Management of risk of microbial cross contamination from uncooked frozen hamburgers by alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Journal of Food Protection Volume 70 pp. 109-113. Retrieved on November 26, 2007, from
http://foodsci.rutgers.edu/schaffner/pdf%20files/Schaffner%20JFP%202007.pdf
Fischler, George E.; Fuls, Janice L.; Dail, Elizabeth W.; Duran, Melani H.; Rodgers, Nancy D.; Waggoner, Andrea L. 2007. Effects of Hand Wash Agents on Controlling the Transmission of Pathogenic Bacteria from Hands to Food. Journal of Food Protection Volume 70 pp. 2873-2877. Retrieved on December 5, 2007, from http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iafp/jfp/2007/00000070/00000012/art00027
For more information on alcohol hand rubs or other food safety topics, please contact Doug Powell at 785-317-0560 or visit our website at foodsafety.ksu.edu
Although we strive to make the information on this fact sheet helpful and accurate, we make no representation or warranty, express or implied, regarding such information, and disclaim all liability of any kind whatsoever arising out of use of, or failure to use, such information or errors or omissions on this fact sheet.
© Copyright 2007 Douglas Powell
Donuts for handwashing
The gesture, to begin later this month, is aimed at reducing the number of hospital-acquired methicillen-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections to zero, said Michael Gardam, the director of infection prevention and control for the University Health Network.
Very cool -- we have heard through some of our research that incentives and recognition for good food safety practices can be valued by front-line staff, but aren't always offered.
University Health Network's Dr. Gardam said he got the idea after hearing how Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles offered $10 (U.S.) Starbucks gift certificates to doctors in a bid to increase hand hygiene compliance.
Though the coffee chain is different, and the gift certificate's denomination is more humble, the thought is the same: a small token to reward those with "good behaviour as well as try to improve the not so good," said Dr. Gardam. To that end, he has purchased $1,000 worth of Tim Hortons gift certificates and will buy more should he receive a favourable response from hospital workers.
Kids should be allowed hand sanitizer
The "agencies of concern" are the Florida Department of Health, the Department of Education and the state Fire Marshal's Office, who are afraid that the high alcohol content of the sanitizers may be a hazard for starting fires or poisoning the children.
Considering the horrible E. coli poisoning of the children Galena Elementary School last month, I'd prefer they let the teachers have had sanitizer. And just keep them away from open flames.
