Front Page

An investigation unveiled potential dangers lurking on self-service screens and handrails as the festive season gets underway

Health chiefs are warning Christmas shoppers to massively step up their hand hygiene after a public health study identified thousands of bacteria living on self-checkouts, including those normally associated with faeces.

Microbes

Microbes that are commonly found in the intestines and can lead to urinary tract infections (UTIs) were also discovered on swabs taken at self-service points across a number of UK stores as part of the project.

With the festive shopping period in full swing and time-poor consumers opting for speedy self-service checkouts, the Champs Public Health Collaborative is calling on people to take extra care to protect themselves and others as we prepare for the annual spike of winter illnesses such as Norovirus and flu.

Swabs

As part of the experiment, scientists analysed 19 swabs from a range of other everyday objects such as escalator handrails, public toilet door handles, as well as office computer keyboards, pets and pet toys.

Following examination, the samples revealed thousands of bacteria, including E. coli – a bacteria that can lead to a range of gastro-intestinal illnesses – being present on almost all objects investigated.

A bug commonly found in the vagina, mouth, throat and gut called Candida albicans, which has the potential to cause a yeast infection, was discovered on an escalator handrail, while intestinal microbes that can cause a range of infections in humans, including UTIs were found on computer keyboards.

Bacteria

Dr Adam Roberts, one of the chief researchers within the Infection Innovation Consortium (iiCON), which is led by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), which produced the analysis of the bacteria said: “We live in a bacterial world – bacteria and microbes are everywhere, and we come into contact with them all day, every day.

“It’s vital to try to minimise their effects in terms of infection prevention and control, so when we touch our mouths or go to the toilet and don’t wash our hands, we’ve likely got bacteria from these places on our hands which can then transfer to other things – and subsequently to other people.

“If those individuals are more susceptible to infection than you are, there may be a problem.

“The self-checkout samples had one of the highest bacterial loads, as we found five different types of potential disease-causing bacteria surviving on them. This included Enterococcus which is found in human faeces and, while this is usually harmless, it can of course lead to disease, particularly in those who may have weakened immune systems.

“We found multiple examples of E. coli and a bacteria called Klebsiella on computer keyboards. While both exist naturally in faeces and intestines, given the right environment, they are able to cause quite severe diseases in humans, so it’s vital that we wash our hands before and after eating when working at the computer.”

You can see more about the research and the results here.

Vigilance

Now, as we head further into winter and prepare for a range of infectious diseases to soar, medical experts at Champs Public Health Collaborative – a public health partnership between nine Directors of Public Health across Cheshire and Merseyside – are urging us all to be extra vigilant and keep washing our hands regularly.

It comes as part of a wider campaign, Simple Things, which was launched after researchers found that two thirds of people are worried about the spread of infectious diseases this winter, with younger people having the most concerns.

Simple Things

The Simple Things initiative calls on people to practise four key measures to prevent the spread of winter illness – hand washing, sanitising surfaces, keeping distance when unwell and covering sneezes or coughs.

For more information about the Simple Things campaign, visit: www.simplethings-nhs.com

Sefton Council is launching a new round of Care Home Improvement Grants to help improve care home facilities across the Borough.

The Grant Programme, which gives care homes the opportunity to make facilities more dementia friendly and support living experiences, demonstrates Sefton Council’s continued commitment to backing the local nursing and residential care home sector and improve the quality of its offering to service users.

Care Homes in Sefton can apply for a grant of up to £25,000 to make their facilities more dementia friendly.

Applications are expected to contain projects that will improve outdoor or communal areas within care homes making them more dementia friendly to allow for more social interaction and activities. Sefton Council is also encouraging those who apply to consider technological equipment that can improve residents’ quality of life and digital solutions to support a greener carbon footprint and energy efficiency.

This round of grants is the third of the Programme.

The Care Home Improvement Grants in rounds one and two benefitted 58 care homes across Sefton, and the Council expects more care homes to benefit from the Grants Programme in round three.

Thornton Lodge in Crosby was one of 36 care homes to receive a grant in round one of the funding. They used it to install new seating and raised flower beds in their communal garden providing residents with greater ownership over their space. The home also installed a turfed bowling green after asking residents what features they would like to see.

Cambridge Court Care Home in Waterloo used their grant to create a hair salon for residents to visit, as well as improving their outdoor area. The salon has proved to be popular with residents, with numerous residents saying that they go at least once a week to get their hair done.

Speaking about the changes, one resident said: “We love our garden and I love to do my morning exercise while listening to the birds sing.”

Another care home that received a grant in round one of the Programme was Good Companions, who used the money to incorporate interactive tables, robotic pets and therapy dolls into their home.

Cllr Cummins, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care said: “I am delighted that Sefton Council are, once again, able to offer grants to care home providers in the borough.

“We have already seen some great improvements to the lives of care home residents, particularly for those living with dementia.

“There has been great innovation in the use of technology, and imagination in the design of environments, making them dementia friendly.

“It’s been heart-warming to hear how the grants have already helped to make people’s everyday lives better.

“This new round of grants will give even more opportunities to care home providers who have fantastic ideas about how to improve their residents’ quality of life.”

Round three of the Care Home Improvement Programme is open to care homes in Sefton now. More information is available at www.sefton.gov.uk/care-home-grants