STAFF at Barnsley Hospital are helping to prevent infections by encouraging handwashing.

Next Saturday is World Hand Hygiene Day and staff will be holding activities from Monday.

Up to 80 per cent of communicable diseases are transferred by touch alone. Touching food with contaminated hands can cause salmonella, E.Coli and diarrhoea. Also among these infections is sepsis, which occurs when the body’s response to infection injures its own tissues and organs. It can lead to septic shock and multiple organ failure.

Many infections can easily be prevented by proper handwashing.

There will be a display in the hospital dining room and nurses will be promote effective handwashing. Children will be able to join in with colouring projects and there will be a quiz for staff with prizes.