Counting the cost of poor hand hygiene

Released 01/03/2010

Survey shows poor hand washing could cost UK £10m each year

False fingernails and poor hand hygiene could lead to an increase in potentially dangerous germs across Britain.

Experts say false fingernails are more likely to harbour harmful bacteria than natural nails because they are longer and are more difficult to keep clean.

The average person carries more than 10 million bacteria on their hands every day, but people with false nails could be carrying even more, said the research by anti-bacterial hand gel brand Cuticura.

New research reveals that poor hand hygiene could be costing the economy £10 billion a year in sick days due to the amount of germs and bacteria that lurk on people's hands. It is estimated that 75% of illnesses resulting in sick days could be a result of poor hand hygiene, leading to a staggering 173 million days off work.

Bacteria carried on people's hands, including salmonella and E coli, can cause food poisoning, stomach upsets, vomiting, diarrhea and fever.

According to Dr Anthony Hilton, a microbiologist from Aston University in Birmingham, one in five men do not wash their hands with soap and water after using a toilet.

Mothers and other child carers only clean their hands 42% of the time after changing nappies.

Dr Hilton said: "It is well known that certain industries like catering and medicine require people to have short fingernails because they are regarded as more hygienic than longer nails. So it is only logical that women with long false fingernails could be harbouring more germs under their nails than shorter ones. By their very nature, longer nails are more difficult to keep clean than shorter ones and therefore bacteria can remain there if not cleaned properly."

"I would urge people to concentrate on their fingertips when cleaning their hands and people with false fingernails to take even more time when washing their hands or they should use an anti bacterial gel to prevent germs hanging around."

Annie Horgan-Smith, marketing director for Cuticura, said: "Many people concentrate on cleaning their palms when washing their hands, but the fingertips are where bacteria and germs are likely to lie and be passed on from person to person.

"People's finger tips and nails harbour more germs than anywhere else on their hands. That's why people need to pay special attention to these areas with their hand hygiene habits and not just focus on their palms or backs of hands."

The study found that married people could be bigger bacteria carriers than singletons due to the inaccessibility of the area of the finger under wedding rings which leads to a build up of bacteria.

In addition, the study also found that the pursuits which put people most at risk from harmful bacteria are gardening, cooking, baby nappy changing and pet care.

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