The director argues that the use of UltraClean liquid hand soap in the hand washing stations of hospitals should replace the soaps currently provided. The director bases this argument on studies conducted in a liquid soap laboratory, which produced conclusive results showing UltraClean’s efficacy. However, the director fails to point out that the research was conducted on bacteria, not viruses, which, unlike bacteria, can cause serious infections. Thus, the director’s conclusions are invalid and his argument flawed.

According to the director, the reduction in bacteria from the use of UltraClean was 40 percent greater than with the other soaps. While this is impressive, it is misleading given the types of bacteria involved. In the initial study, the bacteria tested were Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. These bacteria, while not fatal, can cause skin infections, and while they are not usually deadly, they can sometimes cause sepsis. If a patient contracts sepsis, the body’s immune system is activated to fight the infection, often causing septic shock, which leads to organ failure and death. In the initial study, the researchers did not test the effect on viruses; thus, their conclusions regarding UltraClean’s ability to reduce bacteria are valid, but they should be questioned regarding viruses. Furthermore, if UltraClean was effective against E.

coli and S. aureus, it does not necessarily follow that it will prevent infections caused by these bacteria.

The director assumes that doctors, nurses, and visitors can use the same soap as the patient does, citing the results of the initial study. However, this assumption is questionable. It would be more beneficial to devote the soap stations in the visitor areas to soaps that are specially formulated for hand washing by visitors. Even if it were possible to switch the visitors’ soaps to those of patients, the results would be mixed. The hand hygiene practices that visitors exhibit while at the hospital may differ from that of the staff, since visitors may be less concerned about germs and more interested in getting back to their daily activities. Furthermore, visitors may not be aware of proper hand washing procedures, and using the staff’s soap would not be an effective method of instruction.

The director suggests that hospitals should supply UltraClean at all hand washing stations, including those used by visitors. Removing visitor soaps from the stations would lead to increased awareness of the importance of hand washing. This would be beneficial, since visitors may be more likely to wash their hands if they know doing so will reduce their chances of contracting infection. However, there is no guarantee that visitors would comply. Some visitors may not realize that infections are caused not only by bacteria, but by viruses as well, or that hand washing is a good way to prevent these infections. In addition, visitors may be unwilling to use more soap than is necessary, since excess soap can be irritating to the skin. Thus, it would be more effective to provide visitors with dedicated soap stations rather than allow them to use the same soap as patients.