Reducing pathogen transmission in a hospital setting. Handshake verses fist bump: a pilot study

Journal of Hospital Infection
Volume 85, Issue 4, December 2013, Pages 321–323
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2013.08.010

P.A. Ghareeb [a], T. Bourlai [b], W. Dutton [a], W.T. McClellan [a]

[a] Department of Surgery, West Virginia University, School of Medicine, 1085 Van Voorhis Rd #350, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
[b] West Virginia University, Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, Morgantown, WV, USA

Summary

Handshaking is a known vector for bacterial transmission between individuals. Handwashing has become a major initiative throughout healthcare systems to reduce transmission rates, but as many as 80% of individuals retain some disease-causing bacteria after washing. The fist bump is an alternative to the handshake that has become popular. We have determined that implementing the fist bump in the healthcare setting may further reduce bacterial transmission between healthcare providers by reducing contact time and total surface area exposed when compared with the standard handshake.

Keywords

Fist bump; Hand hygiene; Handshake; Nosocomial infection

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195670113003186