Aloe coating could improve hand hygiene compliance
Aloe-coated exam gloves could improve hand hygiene compliance in operating theatres, a survey of nurses has revealed.
Mediline Industries, a privately held US manufacturer and distributor of healthcare supplies, conducted the poll among more than 500 clinicians, and 97% held this viewpoint. Poor skin condition was also felt to be a barrier to hand hygiene compliance by 84% of respondents.
“Clearly what clinicians are saying is that if healthcare workers' hands feel better, there will be greater compliance to hand washing and glove protocols,” said Alecia Cooper, senior vice president, clinical services for Medline. “It would make sense then that we develop products that soothe and moisturise the skin to promote an environment for greater compliance.”
Cooper said hand hygiene compliance among healthcare workers is one of the most effective forms of killing micro-organisms and, in effect, reducing and preventing hospital-acquired infections.
The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that hand washing alone could prevent more than 20,000 patient deaths per year.
Medline offers a range of products in its hand hygiene programme, including Aloetouch exam gloves, which are coated on the inside with pure aloe vera gel to keep the skin soft. The company also offers Sterillium Comfort Gel, which kills 99.999% of a broad range of nosocomial pathogens within 15 seconds without water and Remedy skin care products, to keep the skin moisturised and healthy.
Medline manufactures and distributes more than 100,000 products to hospitals, extended-care facilities and surgeries.
Contact www.medline.com