International Infection Control Week brings spotlight to important subject Published Oct. 7, 2010 By Maj. Genevieve Stratton and 1st Lt. Basil Aboul-Enein 14th Medical Operations Squadron COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The third week in October is designated as International Infection Control Week and provides an excellent opportunity for infection control professionals to educate staff and the community about the importance of infection prevention. Infection control is an essential yet often under-recognized and under-supported part of the infrastructure of health care. Infection control addresses factors related to preventing the spread of infections within the health-care setting. One of the easiest ways to prevent the spread of potentially infectious contaminants is with effective hygiene techniques like appropriate hand washing. Within the realms of infection control, hand washing is and continues to be the most beneficial and economical way to prevent the spread of infections and disease. The goal of hand washing is to remove microorganisms from the hands, preventing their potential transfer. It is known that organisms survive and multiply on human hands, creating the opportunity to infect others. The individual using proper and effective hand washing is often cited as the primary weapon in the infection control arsenal. The effects of hand washing in the prevention of disease transmission from person to person are undeniable. Keeping hands clean prevents illness at home, at school, and at work. Hand hygiene practices are key prevention tools in healthcare settings, in daycare facilities, in schools and public institutions, and for the safety of our food. What is appropriate hand hygiene? Basic hand washing techniques include the following steps: 1) Wet hands with warm (not hot) running water before applying soap. 2) Use one pump/push of soap and thoroughly distribute over your hands. 3) Rub hands together with enough friction to produce a lather that covers all surfaces for 15-20 seconds. 4) Rinse hands thoroughly with running water in a downward fashion. 5) Dry hands with a paper towel and throw the paper into the trash. 6) Use a clean paper towel to open the door when exiting to prevent the recontamination of your hands. The basic rules are to wash hands before/after preparing food and before/after handling uncooked meat and poultry, before/after eating, after changing diapers, after coughing or sneezing, or blowing/wiping your nose, after using the bathroom, and after touching animals or anything in the animal's environment. Appropriate hand washing can prevent infection and illness from spreading from person to person within families and throughout our Air Force community. Please always remember: when in doubt, wash your hands! The 2010-2011 flu season has now officially began, Oct. 1. The influenza vaccination is one important step towards protecting yourself against the flu. For more information on hand hygiene, please visit the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/handhygiene/.