Infection prevention and control in health care are of primary importance. However, some common antimicrobial ingredients used in hand hygiene products in the healthcare setting, including triclosan and triclocarban, can pose hazards for employees and the environment.

Given the concerns, Health Care Without Harm is launching a hand soaps challenge including a new goal and toolkit to help Practice Greenhealth member hospitals reduce the use of triclosan and triclocarban in hand hygiene products. The campaign is featured in Chemical Watch’s September 2017 Better Business Briefing.

The challenge will begin with an informative webinar on September 28 which is free for members and for a fee for non-members. The guide, Safer Hand Hygiene: Getting Triclosan and Triclocarban out of Hand Soaps, Sanitizers, and Lotions, is available for all PGH members.

Many leadership systems have already stopped using triclosan and triclocarban. The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America advises against the use of triclosan-containing soap due to concerns about promoting antibiotic resistance, widespread human exposures, potential adverse health effects, and the lack of superior clinical effectiveness compared to other products. The FDA has already banned it in consumer wash products.

Please stay tuned for further materials and information.