[Reconciling Sustainability and Hygiene in the Healthcare Sector].

Abstract

In the course of climate change, doctors will not only be confronted with heat-related consequences, but also with the emergence of infectious diseases caused by previously tropical pathogens in temperate climate zones.Fortunately, the topics of sustainability and climate change are also becoming increasingly important in discussions in the healthcare sector, which accounts for 4.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The topic of hygienically safe sustainability in healthcare facilities is highly complex due to the large number of possible adjustments, but also offers a great deal of potential.Numerous measures can be implemented without any restrictions in terms of hygiene requirements or occupational safety.It is not always the large investments that make their contribution to reducing CO₂-emissions - many smaller measures can also be implemented without high costs, but with great sustainability potential. Similar to hand hygiene compliance, behavior modification by each individual plays a decisive role in the implementation of such projects. There is great practical savings potential, for example, in the indication-based use of disposable medical gloves, the hygienically safe handling of medication or the decision between reusable and disposable medical products, just to name a few items discussed in the article.