Symposium session on November 13 will explore the most hygienic method of hand drying in healthcare settings
The European Tissue Symposium (ETS) has confirmed its participation at FIS 2019, the Federation of Infection Societies annual conference, being held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre from 11-14 November.
In addition to its presence at Booth 25 throughout the event, ETS will also host a symposium slot where medical microbiologist Keith Redway, Emeritus Fellow from the Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Westminster, will deliver a presentation asking“What is the most hygienic method to dry hands in a healthcare setting and enhance infection control?”. The session will take place on Wednesday 13 November from 13.15-13.45h in the Moffat Hall, level -2.
Keith Redway’s presentation will draw on multiple scientific studies on hand drying as part of the hand washing process and in particular the impact of different hand-drying methods on hygiene, the spread of pathogens in washrooms, and infection control. The studies show that electric dryers contaminate both the air and surfaces with bacteria and viruses including, MRSA, enterobacteria and enterococci. Single-use towels, by contrast,are found to spread the fewest bacteria and viruses and offer the most hygienic hand-drying option in healthcare settings.
“We are delighted to be present at such a prestigious event,” commented ETS chairman, Fanis Papakostas. “In healthcare settings, where upholding hygiene and minimising cross infection is paramount, experts are increasingly advising single-use towels for hand drying following hand washing: German hospitals recommend single-use towels due to their excellent hygiene properties; the French Society for Hospital Hygiene, SF2H, recommends the use of single-use towels as the most effective way to dry hands and minimize the spread of infection; and most appropriately, as this conference takes place in Edinburgh, NHS Scotland has recently updated its advice on hand drying to recommend single-use towels.”
FIS2019 will gather scientists, microbiologists and other experts from around the world over a three-day conference.
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