Cold and flu season is here, again, and that means bracing for an influx of coughing, sneezing, and sniffles. But while patients might treat these symptoms as a seasonal inconvenience, healthcare facilities know better: flu season can quickly escalate into a public health challenge. According to the CDC, the annual flu season typically leads to millions of illnesses and hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations each year. In fact, during the 2022-2023 flu season, there were an estimated 26 million illnesses, 290,000 hospitalizations, and 19,000 deaths related to the flu1.
While flu vaccines remain essential, there’s another tool in your infection prevention arsenal: hygiene stations. And as we face another cold and flu season, now’s the perfect time to assess whether your current hygiene stations are still up to the task. Spoiler alert: if you installed them during the pandemic, it might be time for an upgrade.