Keep Those Hands Washed, Health Officials Say

ATLANTA–As the number of confirmed cases in the United States passed 4,298, the H1N1 virus has claimed three lives.
 
Health officials confirmed a Washington state man died last week from what appeared to be complications from the flu. In previous weeks, a toddler from Mexico and a 33-year-old Texas woman have succumbed to the novel virus.
 
As the outbreak continues to spread, CDC officials said they expect more hospitalizations and more deaths in this country over the coming weeks.
 
But the good news is that the virus does not seem to be as severe as originally expected, according to Dr. Richard Besser, acting director of the CDC, although he continued to stress the importance of proper personal hygiene.
 
“I say it again and again and again, hand-washing is critical. Viruses love to be transmitted by hands,” Besser said. As for preventive measures, he continued, “Hand-washing or use of gels is number one. Covering your cough with your sleeve is number two. And then staying home if you’re sick or your child is sick is critically important.”
 
On a CDC Webcast, Besser suggested people sing “Happy Birthday” to make sure they’ve washed their hands long enough to get rid of germs, and noted he keeps hand gel in his pocket for between-washings. HME providers should take the same precautions, according to HomeCare Editorial Advisory Board member Mary Ellen Conway, RN, BSN. 



“If you are a DME provider interacting with customers on a daily basis, take the time to review with your staff your infection control practices and make sure that they understand the risks,” said Conway, president of Capital Healthcare Group in Bethesda, Md., and an expert in accreditation standards including infection control. 



“The number one way to prevent the spread of infection is to wash your hands in soap and warm water for two minutes and dry with paper towels anytime you’re near a sink,” she said. “Alcohol gel is great, but it is meant to be a substitute for the times you can’t get to a sink with soap and water.”

Providers should also stock up on PPE (personal protective equipment), if the outbreak in this country worsens, Conway said. She added that “a respirator mask is the most effective with viral illnesses but only used in clearly identified circumstances [such as TB].” 



Conway advised providers to contact their public health department, particularly if located in an outbreak area, to find out what precautionary measures are being taken and to keep up with news if the disease begins to affect more people. 



For the most current information on the H1N1 flu, including guidance for health professionals, check the CDC Web site, or visit www.homecaremag.com for the CDC’s 2009 flu widget. 



For an FAQ on the H1N1 flu from the World Health Organization, which has confirmed 6,497 cases in 33 countries, see www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/faq/en/index.html. To monitor the global situation, see the WHO main Web site.