A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
B

Bacteria

Bacteria are small living organisms which are made up of just one cell. They are not visible to the naked eye. However, when viewed under a microscope, it is clear that they come in a variety of shapes and sizes: spheres, rods and branches. Bacteria multiply independently, in a process known as binary fission. A slightly moist setting, a pH-neutral environment and temperatures of 37 degrees provide the ideal conditions for particularly frequent cell divisions. All this is offered by one body part above all: The palm of your hand. We all carry bacteria in our bodies and on our skin. But not all bacteria make us sick! Some are very useful, for example the intestinal bacteria which break down the food we eat. Just one percent of bacteria cause illnesses. For example, salmonellae, which lead to gastroenteritis, and staphylococci, which are the cause of toxaemia. Bacterial diseases can be cured with antibiotics. Yet the best protection against bacteria remains cleanliness! This is why it is so important to wash your hands thoroughly and to rinse fruit and vegetables prior to consumption.

Bactericide

Bactericides are chemical substances such as soaps which kill off bacteria. Most antibiotics and disinfectants have such an effect. For the term bactericide to apply, at least 99% of germs must be destroyed within the first 4 hours of using the substance.

Biocide

Biocide is the collective term for products and substances which combat pests. Biocides are used for a wide variety of purposes in everyday life: To keep houses and flats free from mould, to protect food from moths and bugs and to combat woodworm in building materials. Biocides are named after the organisms they are designed to battle. As such, insecticides are effective against insects, fungicides against fungi and bactericides against bacteria. Biocides, of course, also include antibacterial soaps, germicidal cleaning solutions and hand disinfectants.

C

Contamination

Contamination refers to the soiling of an object or organism. Contamination can present a hazard to human health.

Cotton towel dispensers

Cotton towel dispensers are a hygienic and environmentally friendly way to dry hands. They dry hands effectively so as to prevent the spread of germs. But how does a towel dispenser actually work? The freshly washed cotton towel is delivered from the laundry and inserted into the dispenser. The towel then runs through the dispenser until the final portion is used up and replaced with a new roll. The system offers numerous advantages:

Single portions: Every user gets a fresh, individual portion – his very own single-use towel.
2-chamber system: Inside the dispenser, the clean part of the roll remains separated in its chamber from the used roll which is housed in the other chamber.
Retraction system: Just like the end of the roll, the used hand towel portion is automatically retracted.
Non-touch device: The dispenser model for non-touch operation.

What’s more: Did you know that cotton hand towels can be washed up to 100 times over the course of their life time. Once it can no longer be washed, the material is recycled to make cleaning cloths and mops. The same cannot be said for paper towels: For hygiene reasons, these have to be disposed of as residual waste.

E

Epidemic

The word epidemic refers to the widespread occurrence of a disease in a particular place. Unlike pandemics, epidemics are restricted to a specific area and time. Tropical diseases such as dengue fever and malaria are epidemics. Infections with cholera, typhus and the plague are also classed as epidemics. The travel warnings issued by the foreign office should be heeded to protect against epidemics. In addition, proper hand hygiene should also be ensured when on holiday.

F

Fungicide

A fungicide is a chemical or biological active agent which kills off fungi and its spores or prevents its growth during the period in which it is effective.

G

Germs

Germ is another word for pathogen. The term germ refers to both bacteria and viruses. The most effective way to protect against germs on a daily basis is through hygienic handwashing.

H

Handwashing

Washing one’s hands is sufficient to ensure good hand hygiene on a daily basis – it is simple yet effective! It not only gets rid of visible dirt, thorough handwashing also considerably reduces the number of germs on hands. It doesn’t take a lot; all you need is soap, water, a towel and a bit of patience. Hygienic handwashing not only helps you to protect your own health, but also the health of others.

Hygienic hand disinfection

Hygienic hand disinfection is an effective measure to prevent infections. Its effectiveness is greater than that of normal handwashing: Hygienic hand disinfection serves to reduce a large majority of pathogens on the hands. This method is used in particular in hospitals and to ensure food hygiene. In addition, hygienic hand disinfection reduces the risk of infections when working with sick people or if you are exposed to frequent personal contact. Suitable disinfection solutions can, for example, render influenza viruses harmless within 15 to 30 seconds and can also be made additionally available in public and corporate washrooms. The right disinfectants must be chosen and used in accordance with the details on the packaging or dispenser otherwise 100% disinfection cannot be guaranteed.

I

Infections

An infection refers to the entire disease transmission process. An infection comprises the invasion, colonisation and reproduction of pathogens in a human or animal organism. Potentially pathogenic micro-organisms are fungi, bacteria and viruses. In everyday language, the term infection is also used to describe the inflammation of a wound by pathogens.

P

Pandemic

A pandemic is the term given to an epidemic which spreads beyond borders and over continents. Historical events such as outbreaks of the plague in the Middle Ages are classed as pandemics. The worldwide spread of AIDS is also considered a pandemic. One of the most far-reaching pandemics of the 20th century was the “Spanish flu”. This particularly aggressive flu pathogen claimed more than 25 million lives in 1918. Today, more effective steps can be taken to prevent such pandemics: With a corporate pandemic plan, companies are ideally prepared to protect their employees.

S

Single-use towel

Single-use towels can be made of either cotton or paper and are used only once. For hygiene reasons, a single-use towel is recommended for drying hands. Studies conducted by the Hjelt Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology at the University of Helsinki have shown that drying hands with an absorbent material reduces the number of bacteria more effectively than an air dryer. The specification of a disposable towel, however, does not mean that the towel only has to be used once. Alongside paper towels, hand towel dispensers also satisfy this requirement; every user is provided with a fresh section of towel which is retracted following use. What’s more, cotton towels can be washed and used again. Correct drying is a key component of handwashing. After all, it is far more likely that bacteria will be transmitted on wet skin compared to dry skin. Thus, thorough hand drying significantly reduces the risk of germ transmission.

Skin protection plan

The skin protection plan comprises all measures and regulations which help staff to care for, clean and protect their skin. The German Occupational Safety and Health Act requires that companies implement the relevant protection measures at the workplace. Skin protection measures are necessary if:

• hands are exposed to liquid for more than 2 hours or 25% of the entire working time each day;
• water- and air-tight gloves are worn for longer than 2 hours;
• the hands are subjected to frequent and intensive cleaning;
• substances which are harmful to the skin are used.

In particular, continuous contact with working materials such as oils, grease, lubricants and other aqueous solutions can place great strain on the skin and can frequently result in a work-related skin disorder. In addition to the use of protective clothing, a skin protection plan is the best way to maintain staff health and reduce illness in the long term.

Soap dispensers

Soap dispensers are containers which allow all users to remove an individual portion of soap. In public washrooms, hygiene experts recommend liquid soap or foam from a soap dispenser as this reduces to a minimum the number of contact points which enable germs to be transmitted. The problem with bars of soap: You don’t know who used it before you and a thin bacterial film can form upon it. Companies and public operators should ensure that their soap dispensers are kept sufficiently full of pH-neutral soap (cream, lotion or foam). This soap is kind on the skin and, even if used several times a day, prevents the skin from drying out and becoming cracked. An environmentally friendly alternative to liquid soap dispensers: the soap foam dispenser. Soap consumption can be reduced by up to 50% by foaming up the soap concentrate.

Surgical hand disinfection

Surgical hand disinfection is a routine medical means of removing germs from the skin. It is also the highest form of hand hygiene and is even more effective than handwashing and hygienic hand disinfection. Surgical hand disinfection is performed by doctors and nursing staff to protect patients from infections, especially before, during and after surgical interventions or similar invasive interventions. This approach is not necessary in private settings. Surgical hand disinfection is performed using an alcohol-based disinfection solution or special wash lotions. The elbow is used to actuate the dispensing arm to remove the disinfection solution from the dispenser, failure to do this means the entire procedure must be repeated. Disinfection is performed based on the 3-step rule, solution must be taken from the dispenser prior to each step:

1st step: The solution is rubbed into the skin, along the entire length of the forearm, from the tips of the fingers to the elbows.
2nd step: The hands and the lower third of the arms (“glove length”) are disinfected.
3rd step: The disinfectant is rubbed into the hands and fingers only. Particular care should be taken when cleaning the nails, fingertips and spaces between the fingers.

The exact exposure time for the disinfectant is based on the manufacturer's instructions and, as a rule, is between 3 and 5 minutes. During disinfection, no undisinfected skin areas above the elbow joint should be touched. The hands should be kept moist throughout the entire prescribed exposure time.

V

Viruses

Viruses are minute pathogens which can only be viewed under an electron microscope. Unlike bacteria, viruses are not made up of a single cell nor can they multiply on their own. Rather, they always require an animal or human, known as a “host”. They penetrate the cells of the host and reprogram them to suit their purpose. The virus then becomes a cold, the flu or indeed a more serious disease such as AIDS. Yet not all viruses which strike humans in this way actually result in illness. The body is often able to successfully fight against the infected cells. This, however, requires an intact immune system and thorough hand hygiene. A vaccination can offer protection against particular viruses such as mumps, measles and rubella.

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