Sanitising door handle to counter hospital infections

A door handle that automatically dispenses sanitising gel is the latest innovation in the battle against hospital infections at a time when the numbers ill with the winter vomiting bug are up 48%.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre said 1,872 people became ill as a result of norovirus infection by mid-October. The figure for the same period last year was 1,264.

Data shows the largest outbreaks were in hospitals and nursing homes, although a hotel in the Midlands reported 29 cases. Earlier this month, Beaumont Hospital introduced visitor restrictions in an effort to control an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug.

The Mater Private Hospital has introduced a sanitising door handle as part of its efforts to control infection.

It is the first hospital in Ireland to trial the Pure Hold Hygiene Handle, developed in conjunction with NHS infection prevention specialists in Britain.

The Hygiene Handle works by dispensing sanitising gel on contact. Infection control nurse Ann Higgins said it is “a novel and effective way of confronting staff, patients, and visitors with the need for clean hands”.

“Unlike static wall- mounted dispensers, which people can miss, the Hygiene Handle does not require people to make a conscious decision about cleaning their hands,” said Ms Higgins.

She said the handle also significantly reduces the risk of cross-contamination via door handles themselves, which can be a major problem in hospitals. In independent tests, the Hygiene Handle surface was 98.5% cleaner than standard hospital door handles.

The human hand is the primary cause for the spread of infection in hospitals, kitchens and among the public at large. Last month, football manager Arsène Wenger banned his Arsenal squad from shaking hands at training to overcome a bout of flu at the club.