Mag Demo

Hygiene, refers to the set of practices associated with the prevention of illness and preservation of health and healthy living through cleanliness. Hygiene is a concept related to medicine as well as to personal and professional care practices related to most aspects of living. Hygiene practices vary widely and what is considered acceptable in one culture might not be acceptable in another. In medicine, hygiene practices are employed to reduce the incidence and spreading of disease. Other uses of the term hygiene appear in phrases including: personal hygiene, domestic hygiene, dental hygiene, and occupational hygiene and is frequently used in connection with public health. The term “hygiene” is derived from Hygieia, the Greek goddess of health, cleanliness and sanitation. Hygiene is also the name of the science that deals with the promotion and preservation of health, also called hygienics.

Medical hygiene pertains to the hygiene practices related to the administration of medicine and medical care that prevents or minimizes disease and the spreading of disease.

Medical hygiene practices include:

* Isolation or quarantine of infectious persons or materials to prevent spread of infection.
* Sterilization of instruments used in surgical procedures.
* Use of protective clothing and barriers, such as masks, gowns, caps, eyewear and gloves.
* Proper bandaging and dressing of injuries.
* Safe disposal of medical waste.

Most of these practices were developed in the 19th century and were well established by the mid-20th century. Some procedures (such as disposal of medical waste) were tightened up as a result of late-20th century disease outbreaks, notably AIDS and Ebola.

One Response to “Hygiene”