“it’s not 100% effective, but I don’t think it has to be in most circumstances.”
Ineffective handwashing is basically useless other than removing visible dirt. The difference between doing a good job and doing a typical job is the difference between actually getting rid of the germs and preventing and infection or not.
“Is there good epidemiological data that estimates how many disease transmissions have insufficient hand hygiene as an important/necessary vector?”
Yes, and that’s why epidemiologists and health economists keep recommending people washing their hands, putting up posters to that effect, etc.
“Because I would bet that outside of unusual cases like food service and medical workers, the number is low.”
Yes, for food workers (who also do a bad job washing, and can’t/don ’t take time off when sick,) the impact is far worse.
Source: Forthcoming paper I wrote with Dave Denkenberger.
“it’s not 100% effective, but I don’t think it has to be in most circumstances.”
Ineffective handwashing is basically useless other than removing visible dirt. The difference between doing a good job and doing a typical job is the difference between actually getting rid of the germs and preventing and infection or not.
“Is there good epidemiological data that estimates how many disease transmissions have insufficient hand hygiene as an important/necessary vector?”
Yes, and that’s why epidemiologists and health economists keep recommending people washing their hands, putting up posters to that effect, etc.
“Because I would bet that outside of unusual cases like food service and medical workers, the number is low.”
Yes, for food workers (who also do a bad job washing, and can’t/don ’t take time off when sick,) the impact is far worse.
Source: Forthcoming paper I wrote with Dave Denkenberger.