25% of Health Care Workers Carry Diarrhea Spores on Their Hands

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A new study suggests that one in four healthcare workers’ hands are contaminated with Clostridium difficile spores after caring for infected patients. 
Clostridium difficile is a bacterium that can cause symptoms ranging from diarrhea to life-threatening inflammation of the colon. Many healthcare workers could be passing on C. difficile to patients, even after routine alcohol-based hand rubbing, supporting the need for routine hand washing with soap and water after treating any infected patient, regardless of the setting. 

Study leader Dr. Caroline Landelle explains, "Because C. difficile spores are so resistant and persistent to disinfection, glove use is not an absolute barrier against the contamination of health care workers' hands. Effective hand hygiene should be performed, even in non-outbreak settings." 

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, January 2014