Result Summary: Hand Hygiene Pre-Committee Survey #2

An Independent Gathering of Perspectives for Consideration by the 2014 CFP Hand Hygiene Committee

The 2014 CFP Committee charge and composition will not be finalized until the CFP Board meets in August. The intent of this independent survey is to make use of the three months where no official committee exists.

Two rounds are down.The final 4 questions will be sent in mid July. Participant suggested questions are welcomed through July 6th.

Qualitative interpretations for Survey 2 …

1. Solid agreement. This question came from a survey participant with considerable regulatory experience. He felt that without the FDA’s signing on to a log 2 pathogen reduction as a standard, the committee could still move forward by considering it “supportive qualitative guidance.”
2. Without some agreed reference point, finding alternatives would not be feasible.
3. Participants appear unwilling to restrict the committee charge to soap and water variables, even though evidence suggests a strong regulatory bias.
4. Convenience plays an important role in compliance. Solutions which take the worker away from the work station are of little interest to many. Some respondents, 28.3 %, likely feel that inconvenience can be overcome with manpower and/or training adjustments.
5. Responses are fairly clear cut. In the context of hand hygiene, removal of pathogens is equal to killing them.

Hand Hygiene Pre-Committee, Survey #2

1. Traditional hand washing performed properly can result in a 2-log pathogen reduction. For those seeking alternatives to “traditional hand washing”, a 2-log pathogen reduction should be considered supportive qualitative guidance.

2. The Model Food Code, which does not define minimum pathogen reduction standards, views soap and water as mission-critical to handwashing, regardless of the efficacy of alternative non-soap and water handwashing methods. The charge of the CFP Hand Hygiene Committee should be narrowed to alternatives which only use water and soap.

3. The most likely need for alternative handwashing protocols is in locations where plumbed potable water is inconvenient or non-existent, like the carving stations at the recent CFP meeting. Potential alternatives will not require the worker to leave their workstation. This added convenience is expected to increase compliance and public health.

4. Many solvents, other than water, are capable of cleaning hands, particularly when friction is added along with extensions of time. If the pathogen reduction level is equal to traditional handwashing, the removal level of pathogens is of equal value to killing them.