"Wash your hands! The simplest protection!"

Nicknamed the “hand-washing queen” due to her research on this humble, but highly effective health habit, Dr. Larson is now associate dean for research at Columbia University School of Nursing. As with many ANF Scholars, Larson was thinking ahead when, as a 1979 ANF Scholar, she became involved in the research, prevention, and control of infectious diseases in hospitals and in the community. Each year, approximately 36,000 people die from flu or flu-like illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Today, we have a new threat, the H1N1 influenza (known also as Swine flu). In April 2009 an outbreak of human cases of the H1N1 was discovered in North America. Today, cases are being found in a growing number of U.S. states and countries.

According to Larson, “Eighty-five percent of infections come from some kind of direct contact. The problem is we don’t perform hand hygiene much. If you make a habit of hand hygiene during influenza season you’re affording yourself the simplest protection money can buy.”

Research led by Larson continues to play a role in CDC’s Hand Hygiene Guideline, which identifies practices that prevent infectious diseases, the development of antimicrobial resistance, and healthcare-associated infections. Larson’s research found that “antimicrobial or antibacterial soaps provide no added value over plain soap,” rather it is hand hygiene that provides significant protection against the spread of influenza.
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