We can not stress the importance of hand washing enough!!
Did you know that over 90% of diseases are transfered by hand contact!
All Businesses and Public facilities should consider providing their restrooms with a
HANDWASH REMINDER® .
The Handwash Reminder® can drastically reduce the chance of
transferring diseases, viruses etc.. from the restroom into a facility
causing employees, children and others to have less sick days
and reducing health care costs as well.
Many viruses and sicknesses are contagious!
Most germs can be spread easily in a home or a facility and can pass from
one person to another in just a matter of minutes.
Although it may take days for infection to begin.
Some of the various causes of common infectious diseases are
bacteria, fungus, parasites, and viruses.
Some of these illnesses include:
BACTERIAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
- Anthrax : multiplication of Bacillus anthracis in the body.
- Bacterial meningitis : inflammation of the protective membranes of the central nervous system.
- Botulism : blockage of nerve function and respiratory as well as musculoskeletal paralysis.
- Brucellosis : entrance of Brucella bacteria by direct contact or untreated/contaminated milk of animals.
- Campylobacteriosis : an inflammatory and at times bloody diarrhea or dysentery.
- Cat scratch disease : after 7 to 14 days or 2 months after a cat scratch, tender regional lymphadenopathy, slight fever, headache, chills, malaise, abdominal pain, backache, convulsions or sterile suppurative papules at the site of inoculation occur.
- Cholera : transmission of Vibrio cholerae by ingestion of contaminated food or water causes diarrheal disease.
- Diphtheria : upper respiratory tract illness having sore throat, low-grade fever and an adherent layer on the tonsils, nasal cavity, pharynx.
- Epidemic Typhus : caused by louse-borne bacteria.
- Impetigo : superficial skin infection common in the age group of 2 to 6.
- Legionellosis : pneumonia or mild respiratory illness like acute influenza.
- Leprosy (Hansen's disease) : granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract.
- Leptospirosis : biphasic disease with meningitis, liver damage and renal failure.
- Listeriosis : occurs in newborn infants, elderly people and immunocompromised patients.
- Lyme disease : rash and flu symptoms followed by musculoskeletal, psychiatric, neurologic, arthritic and cardiac manifestations.
- Melioidosis : caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, which is found in soil and water.
- MRSA infection : characterized by quick weight loss and muscle depletion.
- Nocardiosis : Nocardia asteroides or Nocardia brasiliensis affects either the lungs or the entire body.
- Pertussis (Whooping cough) : severe hacking cough followed by high intake of breath.
- Plague : occurs when person is bitten by an infected flea.
- Pneumococcal pneumonia : illness of the lungs and respiratory system where the alveoli are inflammed and filled with fluid.
- Psittacosis : contracted from parrots, pigeons, hens, ducks, sparrows and sea gulls.
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever : most severe rickettsial illness in the United States.
- Salmonellosis : causes typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever and foodborne illness.
- Scarlet fever : infection may occur through bloodstream or skin and underlying tissues.
- Shigellosis : dysentery due to poor hygiene.
- Tetanus : prolonged contraction of skeletal muscle fibers.
- Trachoma : infectious disease of human eye probably leading to blindness.
- Tuberculosis : generally attacks the lungs but may affect central nervous system, circulatory system, lymphatic system, bones, joints, genitourinary system and skin.
- Tularemia : headache, fatigue, muscle pains, dizziness, nausea, loss of appetite, inflammation of face and eyes and lymph nodes.
- Typhoid fever : due to ingestion of food or water adulterated with feces of an infected person.
- Typhus : severe headache, sustained high fever, severe muscle pain, rash, cough, chills, stupor, decreasing blood pressure, delirium characterize it.
- Urinary tract infections : cystitis or pyelonephritis.
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Fungal Infectious Diseases
Fungal Infectious Diseases
- Aspergillosis : allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis or pulmonary aspergilloma or invasive aspergillosis.
- Blastomycosis : inhalation of fungus from the natural soil habitat.
- Candidiasis : found in exposed and moist parts of the body like the skin around nostrils, ear, oral cavity, folds of skin in diaper area.
- Coccidioidomycosis : caused by inhalation of airborne, fungal particles called arthroconidia. AKA Valley Fever
- Cryptococcosis : caused by inhalation of soil contaminated with the encapsulated yeast.
- Histoplasmosis : primarily affects the lungs.
- Tinea pedis : affects the epidermis of the foot. AKA Athletes foot
Parasitic Infections Diseases
- African trypanosomiasis : transmitted by the tsetse fly. Symptoms are fever, headaches and joint pains.
- Amebiasis : due to ingestion of water or food contaminated with amoebic cysts.
- Babesiosis : generally transmitted by ticks.
- Cryptosporidiosis : caused by contaminated material like earth, water, uncooked or cross-contaminated food in contact with the feces of an infected person or animal.
- Cysticercosis : caused by larvae of tapeworm, generally found in pork.
- Diphyllobothriasis : characterized by abdominal discomfort, vomiting, weight loss and diarrhea.
- Dracunculiasis : caused by drinking water containing infected copepods.
- Echinococcosis : fatal disease due to infection by tapeworm larvae.
- Enterobiasis : infection due to pinworms leading to poor appetite, restless sleep and itching of the anus.
- Fascioliasis : caused by Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica.
- Fasciolopsiasis : caused when aquatic plants are eaten raw and water drunk unheated.
- Filariasis : transmitted by mosquitoes or deer fly.
- Free-living amebic infection : caused by Naegleria fowleri and Acanthamoeba found in lakes, tap water, swimming pools and air conditioning units.
- Gnathostomiasis : due to migrating immature worms.
- Isosporiasis : symptoms are diarrhea and weight loss. Sometimes linked with AIDS.
- Leishmaniasis : transmitted by certain varieties of sand fly.
- Malaria : transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes.
- Metagonimiasis : symptoms are diarrhea and colicky abdominal pain.
- Myiasis : caused by fly larvae feeding on the host's necrotic or living tissue.
- Onchocerciasis : the second leading infectious cause of blindness.
- Pediculosis : infestation of lice on the human body.
- Scabies : characterized by superficial burrows, secondary infection and intense itching.
- Schistosomiasis : due to infection of the blood with schistosome leading to weakness, liver and intestinal damage.
- Taeniasis : infection involving pork and beef tapeworms.
- Toxocariasis : caused by ingestion of dog or cat roundworm.
- Toxoplasmosis : due to ingestion of raw or partly cooked meat, contaminated cat feces, drinking water containing Toxoplasma, transplacental infection in utero or infected organ transplant or blood transfusion.
- Trichinellosis : caused by eating raw or undercooked pork and wild game products infected with the larvae of a species of roundworm.
- Trichuriasis : infection of the large intestine by a parasite whipworm.
- Trypanosomiasis : caused by parasitic protozoan trypanosomes of the genus Trypanosoma.
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Viral Infections Diseases
- AIDS : specific damage to the immune system caused by human immunodeficiency virus.
- AIDS related complex : individuals susceptible to opportunistic infections and tumors.
- Chickenpox (Varicella) : caused by varicella-zoster virus and spots appear mainly on the body and head.
- Common cold : disease of the upper respiratory system. Also called acute viral nasopharyngitis.
- Cytomegalovirus infection : generally concerning salivary glands, though may be found anywhere in the body.
- Colorado tick fever : transmitted from the bite of an infected wood tick.
- Dengue fever : transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquito.
- Ebola haemorrhagic fever : symptoms are diarrhea, internal and external bleeding, fever, general body pain and vomiting.
- Hand, foot and mouth disease : common cause is Coxsackie A virus and usually affects infants and children.
- Hepatitis : characterized by the presence of inflammatory cells in the liver tissue.
- Herpes simplex : symptoms are itching, swelling, emission of fluid from swelling, headache, fatigue, overall gloomy mental state.
- Herpes zoster : affects the nervous system with or without appearance of a rash on the skin.
- HPV : DNA-based viruses that infect the skin and mucous membranes.
- Influenza (Flu) : symptoms are sore throat, fever, headache, muscle pains, weakness, coughing and discomfort.
- Lassa fever : initially mucosa, intestine, lungs, urinary systems are affected, then vascular system and then every tissue in the body.
- Measles : is spread through respiration and is highly contagious.
- Marburg haemorrhagic fever : spread though bodily fluids like saliva, vomit, blood and excrement.
- Infectious mononucleosis : common in adolescents and young adults, characterized by fever, muscle soreness, sore throat, fatigue.
- Mumps : characterized by painful swelling of the salivary glands and fever. Painful testicular swelling and rash may also occur.
- Poliomyelitis : spread from one person to other via the fecal-oral route eg. poor hand washing.
- Progressive multifocal leukencephalopathy : occurs exclusively in people with severe immune deficiency.
- Rabies : transmitted through bites, aerosol through mucous membranes, transplant surgery or kisses.
- Rubella : virus enters body via nose or throat.
- SARS : symptoms are fever, lethargy, myalgia, cough, sore throat, gastrointestinal symptoms.
- Smallpox (Variola) : caused by Variola major and Variola minor. May cause characteristic skin scars and occasionally blindness due to corneal ulcerations and infertility in male survivors.
- Viral encephalitis : an acute inflammation of the brain.
- Viral gastroenteritis : inflammation or infection of the gastrointestinal tract, generally of the stomach and intestines.
- Viral meningitis : inflammation of the protective membranes covering the nervous system.
- Viral pneumonia : an illness of the lungs and respiratory system.
- West Nile disease : transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito.
- Yellow fever : important cause of hemorrhagic illness in many African and South American nations.
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How are germs spread?
Germs are everywhere you look and spread by hand contact easily.
A person can catch germs by touching something a sick person has already touched.
(door handle, phone, remote, pen/pencil, toilet handle, etc..)
Being near someone who is sick and inhaling their germs, especially if they cough or sneeze can get you contaminated.
Shaking hands or kissing a person on the cheek can also transfer germs from person to person.
It is highly reccomended to use hand sanitizer if soap and water is unavailable.
Examples of things commonly forgoten about include:
Door handles
Menus
Pens
Restrooms
DVD Rentals
Money
Mail
Shopping Carts
Groceries
Computer keyboards
Books / Magazines
OK, just about everything!
Sanitize for your own protection!
A good method to prevent the spread of germs is to:
Wash your hands as often as possible, or use hand sanitizer.
Keep your hands clean before touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
When you cough or sneeze, always cover your mouth (use tissue if possible)
Keep your distance from those who are already sick.
If you are sick, try to stay away from others to prevent them from getting sick.
Stay home if you are sick to prevent contamination to others.
ALWAYS WASH YOUR HANDS AFTER CONTAMINATION!!!
USE A DISINFECTANT TO KILL GERMS ON SURFACES!!!
EXPECTANT MOTHERS
Having a child is one of the most precious things in the world.
Try your best to stay safe and healthy.
Make sure you disinfect things you touch the most.
Cell phones, remotes, door handles etc..
Your immune system is lower now and it is very easy to catch a cold etc..
Always make sure you take vitamins to help maintain your immune system.
Always make sure your hands are clean and your surroundings as well.
It is not recommended to use cleaning chemicals
It is best to have someone else use the cleaning chemicals...
(chemicals can get into your blood vessels through your hands and airborne particles)
Never clean a cat litter box...the ammonia can get into your body.
Always make sure your hands are clean before eating.
If you are starting to feel ill, contact your physician and get advice immediately.
Try to avoid being in contact from others who are sick.
Enforce those who come around you to sanitize or wash their hands.
Expectant mothers can get sick easily and a simple hand shake
can cause a virus or bacteria to transfer.
A Handwash Reminder in your bathroom can help prevent the spread of
Viruses, Bacterial infections from spreading in your facility.
Stay healthy and Congratulations from all of us.
Hand Sanitizer vs Soap
Washing your hands with soap and warm water is the best solution to killing germs on your hands. However, if soap and water are not available, hand sanitizer is the next best thing. Hand sanitizer is not to be used as the only solution for killing germs on your hands but is an effective solution.
It is recommended to use warm water and soap. When washing your hands with soap and water, lather your hands well and rub in between your fingers, both sides of your hands and scratch your palms to clean under finger nails. Try to use antibacterial soap to help kill many germs and viruses that may be attached to your hands.
It is best to wash your hands for a minimum of 20 seconds to ensure that all the germs and bacteria are removed and sent down the drain.
Hand sanitizers now come from many companies and it is best to use those well known or with at least 60% alcohol. Today some are made without alcohol and it is still recommended to rub your hands on both sides, in between your fingers and scratch your palms as well. This will ensure that all the germs hiding on your hands have been killed. When done using hand sanitizer, try to have something to wipe your hands, such as a clean napkin or tissue to remove the germs from your hands.
For those with dry skin conditions, use a moisturizer based hand sanitizer. Some have alcohol and others don't. As long as it is a hand sanitizer, it will work just as effectively.
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