After the Bacolod City Health Office (CHO) earlier revealed the leading cause of infant mortality in the city was neonatal sepsis, a type of bloodstream infection, during their recent observance of Global Hand Hygiene Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) said good hand hygiene can prevent serious infections, like sepsis.

According to the organization, “Good hygiene practices and vaccinations, both in the community and health care settings, is the first key step to reduce the occurrence of sepsis.”

“Early diagnosis and timely and appropriate clinical management of sepsis,” they added.

The Mayo Clinic noted, sepsis can lead to septic shock, or a reaction to the infection, resulting in a drop in blood pressure and possible death.

They also pointed out, older adults and those with weak immune systems are susceptible to the infection.

The observance encourages the public to steer away from poor hand hygiene as it can put people at risk of potentially fatal infections. WHO noted, in some health facilities, 90 percent of health workers are not cleaning their hands effectively./WDJ