In 2011, more than 700,000 people got an infection while they were in a U.S. hospital (CDC report). Check how hospitals in your state’s preformed (2014 data reported 2016)

One must wonder what are the causes? could door handles contribute? Given we wash hands lots, but when we grab a door Screen Shot 2016-07-24 at 7.47.46 AMhandle to exit, are we contaminating our hands?

Results of a 2014 study by Dr. Charles Gerba of the University of Arizona showed that contamination of a single doorknob or table top with tracer viruses resulted in the spread of those viruses throughout multiple tested facilities (office buildings, hotels, and health care facilities). Within 2 to 4 hours, the viruses could be detected on 40 to 60 percent of workers and visitors in the facilities – staggering data, if you stop and think.

A SOLUTION - NO HANDS

A SOLUTION – NO HANDS

How about opening the door with a foot handle?

So, if everyone wore gloves, could that prevent infection spread? what happens when gloves touch door knobs? Protection would vary depending upon glove material, degree of porous quality, and micro tears. Oh, BTW – alcohol-based hand cleansers can break down glove material, causing them to be porous.

Note that the permeability of vinyl gloves to bacteria and viruses is greater than natural rubber latex or nitrile gloves.

BTW – Makes me wonder what lurks on toilet handles!