Not true — although extra scrubbing can’t hurt and proper hand washing techniques and use of soap is encouraged, actually only 20 seconds is needed in order for hand washing to be effective, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
This is especially critical for patients and their caregivers after surgery to help kill harmful bacteria and germs, including staph and MRSA, two leading bacteria that can cause surgical site infections.
The survey results also indicated that infection was a top concern after surgery by the respondents having surgery or caring for recovering patients (69%), while one in three, who have actually had surgery, didn’t realize they could use antibacterial soap for handwashing and general skin cleansing to kill germs that potentially cause infections before surgery or after returning home.
“Clean hands and strictly following pre- and post-surgery infection-prevention routines are essential to stopping germs from spreading, especially when you are caring for a recovering patient,” said Janet Carter Smith, Vice President, Retail, Mölnlycke Health Care.