When I contracted mononucleosis, the "kissing disease," while in college, I expect I really did get it from kissing! But it turns out that mono spreads in many ways, from sharing a drinking glass, to shaking hands, to simply touching someone who carries the germ.

The germ that causes mono is only one of millions of illness-causing germs. They may be bacterial or viral, and their resulting infections can cause us to get very sick, or even die. We can breathe germs, or eat them, or they can enter our bodies through open wounds or orifices such as our eyes or ears.

Ordinary influenza, caused by a virus, kills 20,000 Americans each year. MRSA, a bacterial staph infection found widely in hospitals, causes 13,000 deaths each year. Sixty thousand Americans die annually from pneumonia, which may be viral or bacterial.

The dangers posed by illness-producing germs are the reason most states insist doctors and other healthcare workers take courses in controlling infection. One thing they learn is that simply washing their hands with soap and water is one of best ways to keep from spreading germs.

Knowing that, the results of a study in 2004 will astonish you.

Doctors and medical students in a hospital setting were observed for hand washing practices during patient visits. Despite the fact they knew they were being observed, they washed their hands only 57 percent of the time they should have. Germs were spread by the very professionals whose job it was to make the patients well!

What does that mean to us as good advocates for ourselves? When it’s time for a doctor visit, and even more importantly, if you find yourself in the hospital, make sure that everyone, especially healthcare workers, washes their hands before they touch you.

How? A sink and soap are found in most examination rooms and hospital rooms. Observe the person who will examine or treat you when she comes into your room. If she washes her hands while you watch her, excellent. If not, politely tell her you are concerned about germs and ask her to wash her hands before she touches you.

Even if she is wearing gloves, insist she wash her hands, then put on new gloves.  Gloves are meant to protect the healthcare worker -- not you!  If the germs were present on her hands before she put the gloves on, then you are not protected at all since they may have transferred to the part of the glove that will touch you.

With the advent of cold and flu season, and pandemic flu possibilities looming, sharp patients will help stop the spread of germs by insisting doctors and other healthcare workers wash their hands. Then they will take the extra smart step of washing their own hands frequently, too.

©  2006 Trisha Torrey

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