Most infections (18%) occurring in children under five years old, is acute respiratory infections, some of which coming from the community environment, and some coming from the hospital. A release from the World Health Organization revealed that 61% of health workers worldwide do not perform hand hygiene properly. This causes the death of 16 million patients due to Hospital Associated Infection (HAI). Therefore, every year, October 15 is celebrated as Global Handwashing Day to increase public awareness of handwashing as one of self-protection from infection transmission both in health facilities and the community environment.

Through an international webinar at the end of September 2022, Chair of the Indonesian Infection Prevention and Control Nurse Association, Dr. Ns. Elis Puji Utami, S. Kep., MPH., FISQua, explained how Improving Hospital External Quality in the Hand Hygiene Program can control infection in health facilities.

"External quality is used to assess the level of services in a hospital. The description of the hospital services quality can be seen from their implementation of hand hygiene compliance monitoring. For this reason, the role of hospital leadership is very important to monitor and ensure that hand hygiene practices in the hospital environment are carried out properly and sustainably," she added.

Separately, Sales Saputro, as the Product Manager for Infection Prevention from B. Braun Indonesia, revealed that infection prevention and control is an effort to ensure protection for everyone from the possibility of contracting an infection—when receiving health services in various health facilities as well as from the public.

"Public is familiar with handwashing practices in running water with soap. In certain conditions, when access to washing hands with soap and water is limited, people can still perform hand hygiene by using an alcohol-based hand rub which effectively kills germs in a short time and is safe for repeated use," he added.

When practicing hand rub, three main important things need to be considered, are the volume of hand-rub liquid used, the handwashing technique that complies with World Health Organization standards, and the duration of handwashing, which is for 30 seconds. The community also needs to ensure, whether the hand rub used has an EN 1500 certification standard. This standard will determine the level of effectiveness and safety of the product used.

About B. Braun

With over 66.000 employees in 64 countries, B. Braun is one of the world’s leading healthcare companies specializing in 15 therapy areas. We serve healthcare professionals with innovative medical products and solutions; and through innovative training concepts by Aesculap Academy. In 2021, B. Braun achieved 7.9 billion Euro of sales. Around the world, B. Braun products are renowned for the highest quality and safety standards.

In Indonesia, we are strongly committed to fulfilling our vision to protect and improve health. We serve healthcare professionals with innovative medical products and solutions; and through the establishment of a state-of-the art pharmaceutical factory in Karawang.

More information, please visit www.bbraun.co.id

Contact person:
Antonia Enny Indrayanti
Director of Human Resource & Corporate Communications
B. Braun Indonesia
Phone : +62 21 52907177
Email : enny.indrayanti@bbraun.co.id