Tweetchat: Why do CLEAN HANDS matter to Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)?

Joining Details

Moderator: Francesca Chiara (@CIDRAP_ASP) and Vanessa Carter (@theAMRnarrative)
Date: 04 May 2023 (The eve of Hand Hygiene Day)
Where: Twitter
Time: 3 pm UTC/GMT
Hashtag: #theAMRnarrative

How to participate:
Join us for a 60-minute Twitter chat with our panel experts. All stakeholders are welcome.

Start your answers with T1, T2, T3, T4, or CT for transcript purposes.
Answer only after the moderator prompts. Questions will be prompted every 10 minutes but keep answers coming using the relevant T and number. Both panel experts and the public are encouraged to answer.

Use the #theAMRnarrative hashtag in all your tweets so that you are visible to others in the chat and captured on the transcript.

Overview

Hand hygiene is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of infections, including healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial-resistant infections. It is a simple and cost-effective intervention that can be practiced by anyone, regardless of their level of healthcare training. In this TweetChat, we will discuss the role of hand hygiene in patient safety and combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Hand hygiene is the process of cleaning one’s hands to remove dirt, grime, and microorganisms, including bacteria and viruses. It is crucial to infection prevention and control (IPC) in healthcare settings, as well as beyond hospital walls in our daily lives. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), proper hand hygiene can reduce the risk of hospital infections by up to 50%.

Hand hygiene also plays a critical role in combating AMR. When healthcare workers and patients practice good hand hygiene, they reduce the spread of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, which are responsible for many of the most serious, untreatable infections such as MRSA.

The WHO recommends that healthcare workers perform hand hygiene at key moments, including before and after patient contact, before and after performing a procedure, and after contact with the patient’s surroundings.
The most effective way to perform hand hygiene is by washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, making sure to clean all areas of the hands and fingers. If soap and water are not available, an alcohol-based hand rub can be used as an alternative.

Patients can also play an active role in promoting hand hygiene by reminding healthcare workers to clean their hands before and after patient contact. Patients can also practice good hand hygiene themselves, especially if they have a weakened immune system or are at higher risk for infections.

Questions:
T1: What is Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and where is it found?
T2: Why is hand hygiene so important to reducing the spread of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)?
T3: Why should patients participate in hand hygiene to reduce Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in and out of hospital settings?
T4: How can we educate patients and the public about hand hygiene in relation to Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)?
T5: What barriers are there for patients and the public to practice hand hygiene to reduce the spread of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR?
CT: Any thoughts you would like to add about the role of hand hygiene and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)?

How to participate:

Join us for a 60-minute Twitter chat with our panel experts. All stakeholders are welcome.

Start your answers with T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 or CT for transcript purposes.
Answer only after the moderator prompts. Questions will be prompted every 10 minutes but keep answers coming using the relevant T and number. Both panel experts and the public are encouraged to answer.

Use the #theAMRnarrative hashtag in all your tweets so that you are visible to others in the chat and captured on the transcript.

More can be read about this event at the CIDRAP website here.

Notes: Prior to the event, review the University of Minnesota’s Social Media House Rules for a code of conduct applicable to this event.