Hospitals are the place you're most likely to come down with a potentially deadly bacteria.
In fact, studies have shown that MRSA -- one type of antibiotic resistant bacteria, or "Superbug" --is the main cause of skin infections in emergency rooms
But one weapon to fight the bacteria is a simple habit: hand washing.
That's why Vancouver's St. Paul's Hospital launched the Clean Hands for Life campaign.
"The campaign was to improve compliance with hand hygiene recommendations among health care workers, nurses and doctors," says microbiologist Dr. Marc Romney.
The program started three years ago, but just recently expanded to focus on all doctors who work in the hospital.
"Traditionally, physician compliance is low -- and that's what we found when we did internal audits here at Providence (Health Care) that compliance was only about per cent," says Dr. Romney.
Now, doctors will not be able to renew their hospital privileges unless they take an online test -- a test they must score 100 per cent on.
"We've managed to increase it to 60 per cent but we want to go even further, we want compliance to be as high as possible."
For those outside the hospital, hand washing can play a key role in staying healthy.
"I think what's important is your technique," says Dr. Romney.
It's important to wash long enough, ensuring you get the top and palm of your hands. The two most commonly missed areas are your fingertips and thumbs.
And when it comes to hand sanitizers, Romney says you should use a product that contains emollient, "so that it isn't excessively drying to the skin on your hands."
The efforts at St. Paul's hospital have already reduced the rates of antibiotic resistant organisms by 35 per cent -- a simple measure that has become the single most important intervention to prevent infections.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Dr. Rhonda Low
