Everyday Hygiene Practices Reduce Risk of Infections

A position paper published in the American Journal of Infection Control online suggests improved everyday hygiene practices reduce the risk of common infections by up to 50%, and reduce the need for antibiotics by up to 30%.

Hygiene practices, such as hand washing, are considered the first line of defense against the spread of common infections. For this reason, public health experts responsible for the position paper are asking for everyday hygiene to become part of strategic plans to reduce deaths from antibiotic resistance each year.

Under the auspices of the Global Hygiene Council (GHC), the authors examined hygiene in the home and everyday settings in an effort to reduce antibiotic prescribing and its impact on antibiotic resistance. According to the paper, one intervention study noted a 30% reduction in antibiotic prescriptions for common respiratory infections in subjects who used hand sanitizers when compared to controls.

The GHC has published a manifesto calling on national and international policymakers, health agencies and healthcare professionals to further recognize the importance of hygiene in preventing infections and the subsequent need for antibiotics.

From Decisions in Dentistry. July/August 2020;6(7):9.