Nearly half of people don't wash their hands after using the toilet in a hospital, a recent study has found.
Researchers from the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom found that 43.7% of toilet users in a Danish hospital did not use the sink after relieving themselves. In some weeks, this figure even rose to 61.8%.
This raises "serious concerns about hygiene compliance in high-risk environments," the university stated in its announcement. "Despite the emphasis on hand hygiene during the pandemic, the findings suggest that regular handwashing is still not a consistent habit – even in places where cleanliness is vital for preventing infection spread."
For the study, sensors were installed in two publicly accessible toilet facilities at Bispebjerg Hospital in the Copenhagen region of Denmark, according to the researchers.
These sensors were placed directly on the toilets and on the pipes of the sinks. Their usage was monitored over 19 weeks. If the taps were not used two minutes before or four minutes after flushing the toilet, this was recorded as a failure to wash hands.
"People may assume handwashing is second nature by now – especially in hospitals and post-Covid-19," explained the study's lead author, Pablo Pereira-Doel. "But our data paints a different picture."
He and his co-author, Benjamin Gardner, are now calling for public awareness campaigns.
Professor Carrie Newlands from the University of Surrey's School of Medicine commented that the findings were "worrying, but not surprising," noting that "in hospitals, lapses like these can have serious consequences – for patients and for the wider healthcare system."
Health officials advise not only always washing hands after using the toilet but also doing so thoroughly. Handwashing should last at least 20 to 30 seconds – roughly the time it takes to hum "Happy Birthday" twice.
Experts also say that it's best not to open and close taps with your bare hands in public toilets, including those in hospitals. A disposable paper towel or an elbow can help reduce the spread of germs. – dpa
