A HAND HYGIENE torch designed to raise awareness about clean and healthy hands has visited Coventry as part of a UK tour.
The Infection Prevention Society (IPS) paid a visit to Coventry City Council’s Lord Mayor, Coun Lindsley Havard, to promote the importance of hand hygiene.
University Hospital’s Coventry and Warwickshire Infection Prevention team accompanied the torch during its stop of in the city after previously visiting countries including America, Malta and China.
The campaign aims to highlight the importance of hand washing and raise awareness of microbial resistance.
It is estimated that 80 per cent of infectious diseases are spread by touch, and hand washing can reduce the risk of respiratory infections by 16%.
IPS decided to continue Coventry’s Olympic legacy and focus on the sporting achievements within the city.
Coun Lindsley Havard said: “It’s great that the infection prevention team from UHCW NHS Trust came to visit Coventry and spread awareness of the importance of hand washing to combat the spread of infection.”
Kate Prevc, modern matron of infection prevention and control, said: “In the present environment where we are not producing new antibiotics, we are seeing increasingly resistant strains of bacteria where antibiotics will not be as effective.
“Our reliance will be on infection prevention measures to stop us spreading infections – the most important thing we can do to stop infections spreading is hand washing properly.”
