Prevention of infection

It can be difficult to avoid infection completely, but by understanding how infections are spread can be the best way to prevent illness.

Viruses are passed on by sneezing and coughing, or by touching someone who has a viral infection (or something that has been touched by someone that has a viral infection) - this is why it is important to cough or sneeze into tissues and wash hands regularly when infected with a cold or other viral infection.

Bacteria can be spread by eating or drinking contaminated food and water or by transferring them from a contaminated item e.g. chopping board, dish cloth, raw meat on our hands into our body (or to another person).

How to reduce you and your family's risk of infection

It is impossible to live in a completely germ-free environment, but there are things that can be done to minimise the risk of infection.

Good hand washing technique

Dirty hands are one of the most common ways of spreading germs, and every time we touch another person or an object these germs can be transferred. Once the germs are on our hands, it is easy for them to enter our bodies via our mouths, nose or eyes.

Always remember to wash hands:

1. After going to the toilet or changing a nappy
2. Before eating or preparing food
3. Immediately after handling raw food e.g. meat and poultry
4. After touching our pets
5. After touching a 'dirty area' such as the rubbish bin, a dishcloth, soil etc
6. After contact with bodily fluids e.g vomit, saliva or after sneezing/wiping nose

Cleaning

Good cleaning practices with hot water and a detergent will remove most germs from surfaces such as hands, crockery and cooking utensils.

Laundering clothes, bedding and cleaning cloths at high temperatures (at least 60 deg C) also can kill germs.

Disinfection

Using a good disinfectant that kills 99.9% of bacteria and viruses, reduces the number of micro-organisms in an area to a level not harmful to health.

Disinfectants are particularly useful in areas that cannot be scrubbed and rinsed properly such as kitchen work surfaces, toilets and handles, or in areas that are considered high risk e.g surfaces that have been used to prepare raw meat and poultry, or when there has been illness within the home e.g. vomiting, diarrhoea, chickenpox etc

Cooking food properly

Raw meat, fish and poultry and unwashed fruit and vegetables can all contain high levels of germs. Cooking food thoroughly and keeping food preparation areas clean and hygienic, will ensure that your risk of food poisoning is minimised.