Greeting people with a handshake has the highest potential to transmit infectious organisms directly between individuals, but using a fist bump instead can dramatically reduce the risk of transfer
While fist bumps might not pass muster at a typical business dinner, it is a growing practice at acute-care facilities across the nation. Replacing the traditional handshake might strike some as unconventional, but this small gesture is a move that could greatly reduce the number of hospital-related infections.
In a recent study in the August edition of the American Journal of Infection Control, researchers conducted an experiment to measure and compare the amount of bacteria transferred during three different types of greetings: handshakes, high fives and fist bumps. The results concluded that greeting people with a handshake has the highest potential to transmit infectious organisms directly between individuals, and that using a fist bump instead can dramatically reduce the risk of transfer (90 percent less germs).
This reason alone is enough of a catalyst for hospitals to urge team members, clinicians and staff to not only change their behavior, but to get behind the cause for it as well. Overall attitude shifts are responsible for changes in policy: For instance, wearing seatbelts and banning public smoking became laws after a change in perception, not the other way around. When attitudes change policy, the potential for impact is far greater. With this in mind, when first bumps become not only the accepted, but preferred way to address each other, the risk of cross-contamination is reduced.
Changing the culture is vital in the battle against HAIs. It may seem like adopting the fist bump as the method of greeting is insignificant, but it can be an important component of hospitals' efforts to keep patients and staff safe and reduce HAI rates to zero.
Bobby Floyd is the COO of HHS, a firm that has been providing support service management solutions for healthcare facilities since 1975.