Medics reject infection-reducing fist-bumps with patients to avoid 'looking like rappers'

DOCTORS and nurses have overwhelmingly given the thumbs down to fist-bumping patients on the wards – because they don’t want to appear like rappers.

It was claimed last month that replacing handshakes with the trendy greeting could help prevent nasty illnesses such as norovirus being transmitted in hospitals.

But a new survey of medics has revealed there’s no appetite for the move – with one blasting, “We are not rappers,” and another asking: “Whatever next – chest-bumps?”

The poll is included in an academic study, published in the British Journal of Infection Control.

The report’s lead author, Professor Jacqui Reilly of Health Protection Scotland, said: “Overwhelmingly, the participants showed no support for fist-bumping as an alternative to the traditional handshake.

“This is summed up in the comment of one respondent who stated frankly: ‘Stupid idea. Wash your hands’.”

Some experts have reported that handshakes can expose three times as much skin to bacteria as fist-bumping.

But the survey, which canvassed the views of 249 members of the Infection Prevention Society, found 85% of respondents were against the use of fist-bumps, while 7% were for them and 8% were unsure.

It stated: “Only two respondents indicated that introducing fist-bumps as an alternative to handshaking might be worth considering, with a number asking, ‘Are you serious?’ in response to what was felt to be a ridiculous suggestion.”

Some of the comments from IPS members – which includes nurses, microbiologists, researchers and other medics – were scathing.

One warned that fist-bumping could be seen as aggressive, especially by those suffering from mental health problems.

“This may be misconstrued as a fist coming towards them which might be threatening,” he said.

“It could be misinterpreted. An open hand offered as a greeting is far less threatening than a fist.”

Another said: “We are not rappers. And just because the US President does it does not make it a good thing.”

A third respondent added: “The handshake is integral to a good patient-doctor relationship and is internationally known as a gesture of friendship and trust.

“When this fist-bump fad loses its entertainment value, what will be next – chest-bumps?”

However, plastic surgeon and fist-bump proponent Dr Tom McClellan – who has conducted experiments measuring the transmission of bacteria from both fist-bumps and handshakes – said he’d hoped medics would have been more open to the idea.

He said: “Fist-bumping was never intended to be the panacea of infection control. It was meant to be a fun reminder that we spread infection with interpersonal rituals.

“Proper hand-washing is still the best method. I’m very surprised by the resistance to try something new by the health care community.

“We, as doctors, should embrace simple concepts that have the potential to educate the general public and bring a little humour into medicine.”

Poor hand hygiene is one of the main causes of the spread of superbugs such as C.diff, as well as infections including E.coli, flu and norovirus. Experts say washing hands for 15 seconds is key to halting the spread of bugs.

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