Protect your practice this winter
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 13th November 2022
In healthcare settings, high standards of hygiene are always of the utmost importance. And, as we head into the colder months, the need for stringent cleaning routines becomes vital in order to help protect the health of your patients and co-workers. Due to the pandemic, many people have generally become more aware of the importance of hand hygiene and cleaning surfaces regularly,[1] but it’s important not to let these standards slip as the pandemic subsides. Maintaining these standards in your setting is vital in helping to stop the spread of viruses among your local community.
How viruses spread more easily in winter
Research suggests that viruses spread more easily during the colder months for a number of reasons. For example, people’s behaviour changes in winter, as we may open our windows less in colder weather to keep the heat in and change where we spend our time. People tend to congregate indoors more often, which increases the number of contacts people may have in less ventilated areas when compared to the summer.[2] If people are carrying viruses, this means that transmission is far more likely, and easier, as people are in close proximity.
However, it’s not only behavioural changes which have an impact. The way in which the body responds to the cold also makes a difference. For example, breathing in cold, dry air reduces mucociliary clearance and phagocytic activity of the nasal passage, which would normally filter pathogens from the upper respiratory tract.[3] The cold air breathed in causes the blood vessels in the nose to constrict to prevent heat loss, stopping white blood cells reaching the mucus membranes and preventing them from defending against any viruses inhaled.[4]
Plus, due to the winter weather, short days and people’s tendency to stay indoors, people are less exposed to sunlight. This means vitamin D levels fall during this time. Lower levels of vitamin D have been shown to impair the body’s immune response regulation.[5] And, as the air in the winter is generally drier, this allows droplets from coughs and sneezes to disperse more widely and hang in the air for longer periods of time.[6] These conditions make it far more likely for transmission to occur.
Norovirus
Norovirus is very common with 18 million cases each year in the UK.[7] Norovirus is sometimes known as the ‘winter vomiting bug’, and cases of norovirus usually pick up in December and peak in January.[8]
Norovirus causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and, in some cases, a slight fever, headache, stomach cramps and aching limbs. There is no cure, and the symptoms are unpleasant but they usually subside after a couple of days. If infected, people should consider taking more fluids than usual to avoid dehydration, taking paracetamol if needed to relieve any pain, and having lots of rest.[9]
The virus spreads very easily in public places and healthcare settings like hospitals, dental practices, nursing homes, and schools. This is because there are a number of factors that can impact norovirus transmission, including a person’s proximity to an infected individual, the level of ventilation, and people’s individual immune systems. Because norovirus can survive outside of the body for several days, touching contaminated surfaces could easily lead to infection. Eating contaminated food is also a transmission risk, this may happen if an infected person prepares or handles food without washing their hands first.[10]
What can you do to stop the spread?
There are a number of measures that you can take to reduce the risk of spreading norovirus. Firstly, if you become infected, it’s important to stay at home for at least two days after the symptoms have stopped.[11] You should also wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water, especially after using the toilet and before handling any food. This is especially important for norovirus as alcohol gels such as hand sanitisers don’t kill the virus.[12] You should also wash any contaminated bedding and clothing separately on a hot wash to make sure the virus is killed.
Perhaps most importantly, especially in healthcare settings, is effective surface decontamination. An excellent product for thorough decontamination is the Steri-7 Xtra range of surface disinfectants from Initial Medical. Available as a concentrated solution, a ready-to-use spray and surface wipes, it has a rapid kill rate of up to 99.9999% within seconds*. Plus, the Steri-7 Xtra range of surface disinfectants contain Reactive Barrier Technology which is proven to offer protection between cleans for 72 hours after application if the product is not rinsed away**.
With winter fast approaching, it is becoming more important to be vigilant to keep yourself and your community safe from infection, so now is the perfect time to review the decontamination routines in your healthcare setting.
To find out more, get in touch at 0870 850 4045 or visit the website today www.initial.co.uk/medical.
Rebecca Waters, Category Manager, Initial Medical
Rebecca has worked in the Healthcare sector for the past 17years and was a Research Chemist with Bayer Cropscience prior to joining Rentokil Initial in 2003. She keeps up to date on all developments within the clinical waste management industry and is an active member of the CIWM, SMDSA and BDIA.
* Source: Steri-7 Xtra
** Source: Steri-7 Xtra
About Initial Medical Waste
Initial Medical set the standard in healthcare and infectious waste management in the UK, providing a reliable, effective and fully compliant service built around customer needs and delivered by our highly trained local teams. We are ISO 9001:2015 accredited, with technology fully integrated into our operations, providing full traceability of service delivery, electronic waste documentation and the best customer experience possible. We also offer innovative healthcare waste management services and infection control products, to help break the chain of transmission and prevent cross contamination.
Initial Medical are a company with a ‘World Class’ Health and Safety record, and ISO 45001:2018 accreditation. We are also accredited to ISO 14001:2015 environmental standards, and pride ourselves on our sustainable approach with a focus on delivering eco-friendly products and operational solutions.
For further information please visit www.initial.co.uk/medical or Tel: 0870 850 4045
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[1] Alzyood M, Jackson D, Aveyard H, Brooke J. COVID-19 reinforces the importance of handwashing. J Clin Nurs. 2020 Aug;29(15-16):2760-2761. doi: 10.1111/jocn.15313. Epub 2020 May 14. PMID: 32406958; PMCID: PMC7267118. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7267118/
[2] BBC Future. The real reason germs spread in the winter. (Date accessed: 25.07.22) https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20151016-the-real-reason-germs-spread-in-the-winter
[3] Willem L, Van Kerckhove K, Chao DL, Hens N, Beutels P. A nice day for an infection? Weather conditions and social contact patterns relevant to influenza transmission. PLoS One. 2012;7(11):e48695. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0048695. Epub 2012 Nov 14. PMID: 23155399; PMCID: PMC3498265.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3498265/
[4] BBC Future. The real reason germs spread in the winter. (Date accessed: 25.07.22) https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20151016-the-real-reason-germs-spread-in-the-winter
[5] BBC Future. The real reason germs spread in the winter. (Date accessed: 25.07.22) https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20151016-the-real-reason-germs-spread-in-the-winter
[6] BBC Future. The real reason germs spread in the winter. (Date accessed: 25.07.22) https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20151016-the-real-reason-germs-spread-in-the-winter
[7] Food Standards Agency. FSA research suggests new higher estimates for the role of food in UK illness. (Date accessed: 25.07.22) https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/news/fsa-research-suggests-new-higher-estimates-for-the-role-of-food-in-uk-illness
[8] Haringey London. Infectious Diseases. Link: https://www.haringey.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/health/public-health/infectious-diseases#:~:text=Norovirus%2C%20also%20called%20’winter%20vomiting,the%20United%20Kingdom%20every%20year. [Last accessed August 22].
[9] NHS. Norovirus (vomiting bug). (Date accessed: 25.07.22) https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/norovirus/
[10] NHS. Norovirus (vomiting bug). (Date accessed: 25.07.22) https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/norovirus/
[11] NHS. Norovirus (vomiting bug). (Date accessed: 25.07.22) https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/norovirus/
[12] NHS. Norovirus (vomiting bug). (Date accessed: 25.07.22) https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/norovirus/
