Interesting publication being highlighted as part of the WHO hand hygiene day in Leeds, UK suggests through modelling that the type of care, number of surface contacts and the distribution of surface pathogens are most likely to affect the relative quantity of pathogens accried on hands. The paper is published in ‘Indoor Air’, (not a journal that inhabits my bedside table) and we do have to remember that, as G.E.P Box stated, “Essentially, all models are wrong. But some are useful”.

Perhaps this approach helps us with our understanding, certainly has some resonance with me. Unsurprisingly, multiple occupancy rooms are predicted to increase contamination and pathogens accrued on hands decreased after undertaking  care in single patient rooms ecause of the physical barrier reducing aerosol transmission between rooms and hand hygiene (assuming performed optimally, which was where this post came in I think