Paramedics’ handwashing habits ‘remarkably low’
Reliance on gloves indicates a tendency towards self-protection instead of patient protection, say researchers
Paramedics’ handwashing habits have been found wanting, with their adherence to simple standards to protect patients from infection “remarkably low”, a study including Australian workers has found.
In most cases, paramedics failed to carry out hand washing measures that would protect the patient from infection, but were more likely to stick to guidelines that promoted self-protection, the authors write.
