3 Tips to Prevent the Spread of Infection

Sources and information are attributed to the Center for Disease Control website – www.CDC.gov.

Are you interested in preventing the spread of infection in your office?

In this article we will address 3 easy tips to help prevent the spread of infection in the workplace. 

According to the CDC, significant increases in flu activity in the United States have occurred in the last couple of weeks and this week 25 states are reporting widespread flu activity while another 20 are reporting regional activity, indicating that the flu season is definitely here. 

#1 Know the difference between cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing

Cleaning: Cleaning removes germs, dirt and impurities from surfaces or objects. Cleaning works by using soap (or detergent) and water to physically remove germs from surfaces. This process does not necessarily kill germs, but by removing them, it lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection.
Disinfecting: Disinfecting works by using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces or objects. This process does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but by killing germs on a surface the risk of spreading infection is reduced.
Sanitizing: Sanitizing lowers the number of germs on surfaces or objects to a safe level, as judged by public health standards or requirements. This process works by either cleaning or disinfecting surfaces or objects to lower the risk of spreading infection.

#2 Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that are touched often

It’s important to implement cleaning and disinfecting processes in order to remove the types of germs you want to remove or kill. Most studies have shown that the flu virus can live and potentially infect a person for a short period of two to eight hours after being deposited on a surface. This means that daily sanitizing of frequently touched surfaces and objects, such as desks, counter-tops, doorknobs, computer keyboards, faucet handles, and phones can prevent the spread of flu viruses.

#3 Regular hand washing

Hand washing is like a “do-it-yourself” vaccine to reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses as well as other germs and bacteria. Regular hand washing, particularly before and after certain activities, is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of germs to others.

 

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