Letter: Clean living

Your article "Nursery wins battle over health and safety rules" (21 September) raises questions about the importance of hand washing.

Health Protection Scotland fully support infants learning and playing outdoors. As with most things, there are risks. We advise on risk management, especially - in this case - through hand hygiene. In this capacity, we worked closely with the Care Commission to resolve challenges facing Fife's Secret Garden Nursery. Despite the implication of recent articles, threats to infants from gut infections are important. There are between 1,500 and 2,000 emergency admissions to Scottish hospitals annually due to gut infections in the under fives: between 10 and 15 per cent of all emergency admissions in this age group. The most dangerous of these infections is E. coli 0157.

Your report quoted the view that we exaggerated this risk. Since 2006, HPS has recorded approximately 240 cases of E coli 0157 annually in Scotland, around half of which may result from exposure to contaminated environments. Consequences for children can be severe, including kidney transplantation, lifelong dialysis or even death. Hand hygiene is universally accepted as crucial to preventing and controlling the spread of infection, especially in hospitals, kitchens and nurseries.

We fully understand that balancing risk is part of everyday life. However, people should remember that hand-washing remains both the most simple and effective method of infection control.

MARY MORGAN

Health Protection Scotland