Dorset County Hospital installed a number of Dart Valley Systems [DVS] no-touch taps and WC flushvalves over a couple of years, and the positive experience lead to the hospital making a decision to remove all lever operated clinical hand wash taps and toilet handles and replace with no-touch operation.
Hand hygiene is a critical aspect of reducing HCAI’s including Clostridium difficile. There is growing recognition of the potential risks that pathogens may be transferred onto the hands or arms of carers from touching levers on taps. Even if the ergonomics of the taps make it possible to operate using arms or elbows there remains a high risk of contamination from levers. It is difficult to find any benefits from an infection control viewpoint of operating clinical hand wash taps using levers, compared with infra-red or similar no-touch operation.
The following photograph demonstrates the simplicity of design, ease of operation and clean lines, compared to complex shaped lever taps.
The comments made in an article by Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine published on the CDC, highlighted the importance of hand washing as an important measure to control C.Diff “The most effective means of decreasing horizontal spread of C difficile has been a combination of vigilant hand hygiene and use of isolation precautions.”
“Alcohol is not effective in killing C difficile spores. Therefore if a hospital is experiencing an outbreak, it is prudent for health care workers to wash their hands exclusively with soap and water when caring for patients with known CDAD.”
