Teenagers need hand-washing lessons to prevent spread of superbugs, experts warn

Some teenagers have become so bad at washing their hands that they need extra lessons, experts have warned.

University students are among those who should be taught the correct way to hand wash in order to prevent the spread of diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant superbugs, says the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

They say the lessons are needed because an increasing number of young people no longer wash their hands after going to the toilet, or before preparing food.

In guidance to the NHS, Nice insists that “social norms” must be changed.

MORE: Bird flu detected in 10,000 pheasants in Preston

MORE: Ketamine could be used to treat alcoholism

“We’ve forgotten the importance of hand washing because we could treat infections so easily,” states NICE.

“We may think we wash our hands when we go to the bathroom but people do it really quickly and evidence shows we don’t do it as well as we should.

“So we do need to remind people and if you start young that’s better because you train people into good habits.”

It added that children must be given classes on when and how to wash their hands, using liquid soap and running water.

And it said teenagers who have recently moved away from home, such as students, need extra advice for when they get ill.

Food hygiene tips, such as cooking and handling meat and “use by” dates, will also help in avoiding infections, reported the Times.