Originally Posted by Astro14
Yep.
Hospitals struggle with it, too.
And their staff wash their hands a lot more frequently...
Maybe we should all take a hint from the hospital staff, who rarely get sick, despite being around all those germs...
I can tell you that i avoid touching my face unless i have just washed and DRYED my hands. I wash my hands before using the restroom as well as after. For the most part i leave my phone in my locker. I try not to let land line phone mouthpieces touch my face. I keep my ink pen in my pocket and i use a different one when patients need to sign consents. i wash my hands after and wipe pens with bleach wipes.
I don't know the efficacy of cholorohexidine with regard to norovirus. We have 3M Avaguard with chlorohexidine surgical scrub gel, the chloro in that is supposed to remain active on skin for 6 hours even with continued washing. I use a bit of that every morning.
Gloves in a non sterile environment can give you a false sense of security if you don't wash before and after removing them, and be conscious of what you touch while wearing them. I would recomment having nitrile gloves on hand, If a family member gets norovirus, confine them to using 1 bathroom and wear gloves to clean it with bleach. Sink handles doorknobs cabinet handles , tv remotes etc.