Due to the increase in infectious diseases during winter months, attention is drawn to hand hygiene. Experts recommend washing hands with soap and water for at least 30 seconds, especially in crowded environments and situations with frequent hand contact (shopping, public transport, etc.). If there is visible contamination, antimicrobial soap can be used. It is important to soap all surfaces of the hands and rinse them thoroughly. While insufficient hand hygiene increases the risk of infection, regular handwashing helps prevent many infections.
Hand hygiene is essential for a strong immune system!
Spending more time in enclosed and crowded areas due to the arrival of winter season accelerates the spread of infectious diseases. Experts, stating that attention should be paid to hand hygiene to protect against infectious infections, recommend frequent hand washing and emphasize that the washing duration should be at least 30 seconds.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Murat Koca, General Surgery Specialist from Üsküdar Üniversitesi NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi, emphasized the importance of hand hygiene, stating that infectious diseases are becoming widespread in the current winter season.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Murat Koca, the specialist, stated that if hand hygiene is not sufficiently maintained, it invites infections, and added that a certain degree of infections can be prevented with handwashing.
Hands should be washed after hand contact
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Murat Koca, the specialist, stated that hands should be washed whenever there is an opportunity to ensure hand hygiene, and added that water and non-antimicrobial solid/liquid soap can be used for hand cleaning after all routine activities in social life that require hand contact, such as shopping, using public transportation, and handling money.
How should ideal handwashing be done?
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Murat Koca, the specialist, stated that microorganisms contaminating the skin during daily activities can be completely removed from the skin if hands are washed with soap and water, and added the following: “Hands must be washed with appropriate soap, and the washing duration should be at least 30 seconds. Additionally, if there is visible contamination on the hands, antimicrobial soap can be used. First, hands should be moistened with water to begin washing. Take 3-5 ml of soap onto the hands and rub them for at least 15 seconds. Ensure that all surfaces of the hands and fingers are covered with soap. Hands are rinsed with water and thoroughly dried.”