Internationally renowned hand washing expert available to comment on influenza outbreak

Elaine Larson, PhD, associate dean of research at Columbia University School of Nursing, an internationally renowned expert on infection prevention research, with a special focus on proper hand washing techniques to reduce the spread of influenza, is available to comment on the following topics in the wake of the one the earliest and strongest flu seasons on record:

• Proper hand washing techniques: "The big mistake people make is that they just rub their palms together and they don't get the dirtiest parts of the hands" -- under and around the fingernails," said Larson. “It’s necessary to cover all surfaces of the hands, between the fingers and in the crevices around fingernails, with a good amount of friction. Using soap is crucial because it acts as an emulsifier to slip the germs off the hands.”
• The necessity for healthcare workers to wash their hands before dealing with patients to prevent the spread of illness.
• The benefits of soap vs. hand sanitizers
• Reducing influenza in children, the elderly and other vulnerable populations.

Larson serves as a consultant to the World Health Organization for their hand washing guidelines.