David Vidra Health Educators

With the increase in popularity of antiseptic hand gels over the past 6 years, we have seen a significant decrease of compliance with hand washing. However, hand gels were never intended as a replacement for hand washing, but to be used only in cases where hand washing was not feasible.

Per Federal law, hand washing is the primary method for cleansing hands. OSHA standards make it very clear that antiseptic hand gels do not replace the act of washing hands. In plain English, it clearly states that antiseptic hand cleansers can only be used when it is not feasible to provide hand washing facilities with running water. In our industries, running water should always be available for hand washing. Also note, per OSHA standard cited below, after the use of antiseptic hand gel, hands must still be washed with soap and water as soon as feasible. Click Here to read more.

Skin infections with MRSA are transmitted by close skin-to-skin contact with an infected person or by contact with objects or surfaces contaminated with MRSA. Most often MRSA infections occur in hospital patients; however, reports of MRSA infections acquired outside of a hospital setting (community-acquired) are becoming more common.

As with ordinary strains of Staphylococcus aureus, some people harbor MRSA on their skin or in their nose without harm, whereas other people may develop infections.

People with an increased risk of developing infection include those with breaks in their skin due to abrasions, cuts, wounds, tattooing, body piercing, or surgical incisions; those with certain types of immune system deficiency, such as low number of white cells in their blood; athletes participating in contact sports; IV drug users; and those living in crowded, unsanitary conditions with poor hygiene (i.e., prisoners). Click Here to read more.

Public health officials advised people who received tattoos or piercing at Moonshin a Cooksville tattoo and piercing parlour, between March 2005 and last month to get blood tests.

Inspection by health officials revealed that the tattoo parlour failed to keep adequate maintenance records for its sterilization equipment. It is estimated this negligence of proper sterilization can put nearly 3,000 people at risk of contracting HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

A Whitby law firm is filing a $20-million class action against Moonshin Tattoo in Mississauga and the Peel Region Health Department, alleging that the parlour used unsterilized needles when tattooing as many as 3,000 people over a four-year period — exposing them to possible diseases.

Everything is setup for the first of what we hope to be a recurring series of BodyArtPro sponsored  Health Educators classes in Toronto. Sunday we have the Bloodborne Pathogens and The Principles of Infection Control class and Monday will be Sterilization: From Start to Finish.  Big Thanks to Philip Barbosa (BMEzine Staff) for coordinating the event and for helping setup the class space at the BodyArtPro office.