This week is International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW). The goal of IIPW is to raise awareness of the role infection prevention plays in improving patient safety.

The theme for this year’s IIPW is Protecting Patients Everywhere. With a theme this broad, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control (APIC) is promoting topics ranging from the use of antibiotics to proper hand hygiene. Protecting Patients Everywhere is about protecting patients and others through the continuum of care.

The Symmetry^® Hand Hygiene Program can help you improve infection prevention in your facility. Following proper hand hygiene steps is one of the best ways to help improve patient well-being. Symmetry has all of the hand hygiene tools you’ll need to improve hand hygiene practices in your facility.

Symmetry products reduce common disease-causing bacteria, making them a reliable choice for facilities looking to stop the spread of disease. More than that, Symmetry products are gentle on your hands.

However, having the proper products available in your facility isn’t enough. This is why the Symmetry Hand Hygiene Program comes with tools to help motivate people to keep their hands clean. Its education and awareness tools include things like posters and wall charts, designed to explain the “How” and “Why” of proper hand hygiene. Symmetry also utilizes behavioral science to create unique placards and signs with messages designed to inspire and maximize hand hygiene practices.

For IIPW, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) is focusing on infection prevention throughout the continuum of care. Symmetry provides Point of Care tools for healthcare facility workers to use throughout care for a patient. Suction cups, brackets, and lanyards make it possible to access hand sanitizer while workers are in contact with patients and are at the highest risk of spreading germs.

The Symmetry Hand Hygiene Program is just one of many ways your facility can work to reduce the spread of germs. International Infection Prevention Week happens every third week of October, but infection prevention is a year-round job. Check out all of the tools APIC provides to keep you informed about infection prevention on their website.

 

Last year the spread of the flu reached epidemic levels across the United States. With flu season upon us, it’s important to remember the best ways to keep the flu at bay. The most effective way to prevent the flu is to get the flu vaccine. The CDC is recommending individuals get vaccinated by the end of October.

There are other important ways to prevent the spread of the flu. Because the flu is spread through contact, the CDC also recommends washing hands often. The CDC provides tips for when and how to wash your hands to help protect the health of those around you here.

In your facility, implementing a complete hand hygiene program can help reduce the spread of germs. The Symmetry^® Hand Hygiene Program has all the tools needed to tackle the flu in any facility. First and foremost, Symmetry products reduce common disease-causing bacteria. All Symmetry products clean your hands without drying them out or leaving behind a sticky residue.

Additionally, encouraging people in your facility to practice proper hand hygiene is one of the most important steps in reducing the spread of the flu and other germs. Symmetry has education and awareness tools like posters, wall charts, and handwashing videos designed to demonstrate and explain the importance of proper hand hygiene.

The Symmetry Hand Hygiene Program also implements behavioral science with the Symmetry Behavior Modification System (SBMS). These tools help drive immediate hand hygiene practices, encouraging people to wash or sanitize their hands with eye-catching placards and signs. Both SBMS and education and awareness tools offered by Symmetry can be customized for any facility. Use your facility logo, colors, or catchphrase to help inspire proper hand hygiene.

The flu can spread fast, but Symmetry hand hygiene products and tools can help keep the well-being of the people in your facility in mind. Contact your local Buckeye representative to find out more about Symmetry and fighting the flu.

Next week Symmetry^® representatives will gather with nearly 5,000 healthcare professionals at the APIC (Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology) 2018 Annual Conference in Minneapolis, MN. With a goal of infection prevention, APIC will present opportunities to learn about the latest technologies and best practices for healthcare professionals. From June 13-15, APIC will host more than 100 education sessions, making it one of the most comprehensive infection prevention conferences in the world.

Learn about the Symmetry Hand Hygiene Program in Booth #1221 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Representatives will be there to discuss the importance of hand hygiene in infection prevention, especially at point of care. Symmetry’s innovative technologies can improve hand hygiene in your facility and reduce the spread of germs. Here are a few topics they will be discussing:

Point of Care and National Patient Safety Goal (NPSG) 07.01.01

Recently the Joint Commission stated that they would issue a Requirement for Improvement for any observation of individual failure to preform hand hygiene in the course of direct patient care. Symmetry’s Point of Care tools are there for the moments when healthcare workers are in contact with patients and are at high risk of spreading germs. Symmetry offers various 550 and 50 ml options for tray tables, bed rales, supply carts, and more to help individual caretakers to remember to sanitize and wash their hands.

Proven Clinical Acceptance

When asked to compare Symmetry products to their current hand hygiene products, 97% of Symmetry Challenge Respondents chose Symmetry. Symmetry hand washes and hand sanitizers clean hands leaving no sticky residue behind.

Behavior Modification

Symmetry utilizes behavioral science to drive hand hygiene practices. Beyond having products that are gentle on hands, Symmetry uses signs and placards with messages designed to inspire and maximize hand hygiene practices.

Symmetry Products are Triclosan-Free

Because the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has finalized a rule that bans the marketing of over-the-counter (OTC) healthcare antiseptic products containing triclosan, some healthcare facilities are looking for safer, alternative options. All Symmetry products are triclosan-free.

Next week, learn about each of these features and more. Meet with a Symmetry representative at APIC and get to know the Symmetry Hand Hygiene Program.

 

On May 5th, the World Health Organization (WHO) is celebrating World Hand Hygiene Day. This year, their goal is to prevent sepsis in healthcare. Sepsis is a life-threatening organ disfunction that can be a result of infection. According to WHO, “Sepsis is estimated to affect more than 30 million patients every year worldwide.” The CDC reports that one in three patients who die in a hospital have sepsis.

WHO’s calls to action for May 5th, 2018 include:

Sepsis is not the only complication that can result from infection. The best way to counteract these complications is to stop the spread of infection. On their website, WHO has a variety of resources and tools for anyone looking to understand or promote hand hygiene awareness.

The best way to prevent the spread of healthcare associated infections, HAIs, is to improve hand hygiene practices. In healthcare facilities, healthy hand hygiene practices can sometimes be neglected or avoided if hand sanitizers dry out the skin or staff members are not constantly reminded.

The best way to ensure both patients and staff are washing and sanitizing their hands regularly is with a complete hand hygiene program. The Symmetry® Hand Hygiene Program has a variety of hand washes and sanitizers that reduce common disease-causing bacteria. Symmetry dispensers have large sight windows to check product levels, and Symmetry hand hygiene products are packaged in no-drip bags.

Symmetry also has important added benefits. Having access to hand hygiene products is often not enough to encourage the people in your facility to wash their hands. Symmetry has customizable education and awareness tools, designed to maximize hand hygiene practices in your facility. These include wall charts, posters, product literature, and hand washing videos. The Symmetry program incorporates behavioral science into placards and signs to inspire people to wash or sanitize their hands.

Careful attention to hand hygiene in healthcare facilities can improve hand hygiene compliance. Contact your local Symmetry representative to find out more about how Symmetry can improve hand hygiene compliance in your facility.

Absenteeism can impact student learning and achievement. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that more than two-thirds of U.S. students 5-17 years old missed school over a one-year period due to illness or injury.

The Symmetry^® Hand Hygiene Program fights absenteeism by encouraging students to understand the importance of hand hygiene. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO), hand hygiene is one of the most important steps in reducing the spread of germs. Educating students on hand hygiene with Symmetry can help students fight the spread of germs.

The Symmetry Hand Hygiene Program offers superior hand washes and hand sanitizers alongside tools that encourage students to wash their hands. These tools include product literature, handwashing videos and customizable posters, wall charts, and placards.

Symmetry also offers Hand Hygiene Assemblies as a fun way to engage pre-k to 3rd grade students in hand hygiene. Symmetry Hand Hygiene Assemblies assist teachers in educating their students about good hand hygiene practices. They feature Biscuit the Paw-Washing Dog, Symmetry’s hand hygiene mascot as well as a fun, interactive video. Students learn eye-opening information about germs followed by proper handwashing and hand sanitizing techniques.

When assemblies conclude, students walk away with an I Wash My Hands sticker and a better understanding of when and how to wash their hands. When asked about the effect Symmetry Hand Hygiene Assemblies had on his school, one Elementary School Environmental Health Manager said, “Getting our younger students started early, thinking about washing their hands and fighting the spread of germs will eventually turn into awesome daily habits that will be hard to break.” The Symmetry Hand Hygiene Program helps students form healthy habits that can last a lifetime.

To find out how to schedule a Symmetry Hand Hygiene Assembly at your school or to learn more about the Symmetry Hand Hygiene Program, contact your local Buckeye representative.

The 2017-2018 flu season has been one of the worst in recent history and, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu activity continues to rise. Influenza-like illness (ILI) activity has reached 7.7%, the highest level of ILI since the “swine flu” pandemic of 2009. Hospitalization rates are also the highest they’ve been since the CDC began tracking them.

The CDC recommends vaccination as the first line of defense against the flu and as the flu continues to spread across the U.S., it’s important to remember that it is often spread from person to person by coughing, sneezing, or touching.

According to the CDC and World Health Organization (WHO), hand hygiene is one of the most important steps in reducing the spread of germs.

Germs can live on your hands for up to three hours. In schools and healthcare facilities where illnesses like the flu can spread quickly without attention to proper hand hygiene practices, implementing the right hand hygiene program can have a huge impact on the spread of germs.

The Symmetry^® Hand Hygiene Program provides free hand hygiene program analysis to help you gain a better understanding of the issues affecting the well-being of employees, patients, or students in your facility. Symmetry considers products and tools alongside your facility’s specific hand hygiene needs to create a completely customized program.

Contact your local Buckeye representative to learn more about how your facility can tackle the flu and other hand hygiene issues with Symmetry.

 

In a 1980s strength test, participants stared at a piece of navy blue paper for 15-20 seconds and then had their strength measured. Next, they stared at a piece of pink paper for 15-20 seconds and, again, had their strength measured. No matter which color they stared at first, the results were the same – there was a significant drop in strength after staring at the pink paper.

Studies like this are the reason why the visitor’s locker room at the University of Iowa is painted pink. They are also the reason major manufacturers employ behavioral scientists to identify and capitalize on various stimuli that influence our behavior and, ultimately, lead us to purchasing their products. The Symmetry^® Hand Hygiene Program has partnered with Dr. Adam Alter, who has a PhD in Behavioral Science, to create the Symmetry Behavior Modification System (SBMS).

The goal of SBMS is to provide tools that capture attention in the moment, driving an immediate hand hygiene event to take place. Based on the 6 key tenets of benevolence, accountability, responsibility, variation, emotion, and direction, Symmetry’s behavior modification tools include custom colored dispensers, placards, visual lighting cues, and floor decals.

Beyond dispenser color, Symmetry’s placards are designed with inspiring messages to encourage hand hygiene. Custom dispensers can also be equipped with visual lighting cues (flashing lights) to draw attention and impact behavior. Symmetry’s floor decals provide direction and guide people towards better hand hygiene.

When asked about the impact SBMS has had in her healthcare facility, one infection preventionist said, “I was just washing my hands in the public bathroom that has a sign saying, ‘You can make a difference doing something this simple.’ Such a simple statement says so much and can make such a huge difference in how we protect ourselves and our patients here. We don’t have to preach to people. Just saying it simply can get to the heart of the matter. I’m glad we have those visuals for staff, family, and patients so they can all join in!”

Hand hygiene is one of the most important steps in reducing the spread of germs. The Symmetry Behavior Modification System, coupled with Symmetry’s preferred formulas, maximizes hand hygiene compliance, helping to keep people in your facility healthy.

Contact your local Buckeye representative to learn more about the Symmetry Behavior Modification System and the Symmetry Hand Hygiene Program.

Symmetry^® Hair, Hand and Body Foaming Wash is a product designed for general use, keeping your skin soft and smooth. It can also be used to wash hair without damaging it. It is dye-free with a fruity, floral fragrance and is available as both a gel and foaming product.

Symmetry Hair, Hand and Body Wash is biodegradable and Green Seal™ certified, meeting Green Seal Standard GS-41A based on effective performance and protective limits on VOCs and human & environmental toxicity. Like all Symmetry products, Hair, Hand and Body Foaming Wash comes in hermetically sealed, BPA-free packaging, ensuring all product is contaminate-free. Size options include 1250 ml and 2000 ml packaging. This packaging also evacuates 99% of the product, helping to eliminate product and budget waste.

Symmetry dispensers are “no-drip”, keeping counters and floors clean after every push. They are ADA compliant, come in multiple colors, and have large sight windows to check product levels.

The Symmetry Hand Hygiene Program offers a complete line of hand hygiene products, including both hand washes and hand sanitizers. Symmetry also provides education and awareness tools, behavior modification tools, and training to increase hand hygiene awareness in your facility.

Contact your local Buckeye representative today to learn more about the Symmetry Hand Hygiene Program in your facility.

This week (Oct 15-21) is International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW). Each year, in the third week of October, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) hosts IIPW to educate both professionals and consumers on the role of infection prevention in patient safety. This year’s theme is Antibiotic Resistance. APIC has a complete toolkit available to help raise awareness about antibiotic resistance and other issues related to infection prevention.

Infection prevention has many facets. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO), hand hygiene is one of the most important steps in reducing the spread of germs.

Buckeye developed the Symmetry^® Hand Hygiene Program to speak to the importance of hand hygiene in every facility. This complete program provides hand sanitizers and hand washes that reduce common disease-causing bacteria. For healthcare facilities, convenient point of care tools are available before, during, and after patient contact to improve the health and safety of patients and healthcare workers. Symmetry also comes with customizable awareness and education materials to help you maximize hand hygiene practices in your facility.

APIC also has a number of tools and resources to help spread awareness about infection prevention. These tools are accessible throughout Infection Prevention Week and beyond. For more information on Buckeye’s Symmetry Hand Hygiene Program, contact your local Buckeye representative.

 

Join us in celebrating International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW), October 15-21. The goal of International Infection Prevention Week is to raise awareness of the role of infection prevention in improving patient safety.

The theme of 2017 IIPW is Antibiotic Resistance. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the United States, 2 million people become infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics each year. Of those 2 million, 23,000 people die as a result of the infection. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared antibiotic resistance one of the biggest global health threats facing the world today. Patients and families can help prevent the spread of antibiotic resistance by knowing when antibiotics work and when they don’t. Antibiotics work on bacterial infections but do not cure viral infections.

The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) is committed to preventing infections and provides resources for those who wish to participate in IIPW. These resources include social media memes, games and activities, polls and quizzes, e-cards, podcasts and videos, and more. On October 17 at 2 p.m. ET, APIC will also host a Twitter chat using #IIPWChat to discuss how healthcare providers, patients, and families can break the chain of infection in hospitals and other healthcare settings. Follow APIC on Twitter here.

According to the CDC and WHO, hand hygiene is one of the most important steps in reducing the spread of germs. Buckeye offers the Symmetry^® Hand Hygiene Program in support of infection prevention.

Contact your local Buckeye representative to find out more about the Symmetry Hand Hygiene Program.