Health Care Provider Who Fails to Wash Hands Spreads Germs

Hand washing is an important infection control method in hospitals across the country. A new mathematical model suggests that hospitals may have to become even more diligent. The investigators explored the impact of just one doctor, nurse or technician who failed to wash hands adequately. Such a “superspreader” traveling throughout the hospital could triple the rate of hospital-acquired infections. Since this is more likely when hospitals are overloaded with patients during an epidemic such as H1N1 influenza, it is ever more critical for everyone to wash hands conscientiously.
[Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences]