Hand HygieneIn-Service for Staff

What is Hand Hygiene?Hand hygiene involves the following:

Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Health-Care Settings. MMWR 2002; vol. 51, no. RR-16.

Hand washing: washing hands with soap and water

Alcohol-based hand rub: rubbing hands with an alcohol-containing preparation

Why Don’t We Wash Our Hands?

Self-Reported Factors for Poor Adherence with Hand Hygiene

Skin irritation and dryness Sinks are inconveniently located/lack of

sinks Lack of soap and paper towels Too busy/insufficient time Understaffing/overcrowding Patient needs take priority Low risk of acquiring infection from patients

Adapted from Pittet D, Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2000;21:381-386.

Clean Hands Save LivesClean hands are the most important factor

in preventing the spread of disease and antibiotic resistance in settings across the

continuum of health care.

Hand hygiene:Promotes patient safety and prevents infectionsReduces the incidence of healthcare-associated infections

Hand Hygiene: How and When

• If hands are visibly dirty, contaminated, or soiled, wash with soap and water.• After using the restroom• Before eating or preparing food

• If hands are not visibly soiled,

use an alcohol-based hand rub for routinely decontaminating hands.

Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Health-care Settings. MMWR 2002; vol. 51, no. RR-16.

When to Perform Hand Hygiene

Before and after:– Contact with a patient– Treating a cut or wound

(Ex: changing dressings or bandages)

Before:– Putting on gloves– Preparing or eating food– Touching your eyes, nose, or mouth– Handling/administering medication– Insertion of invasive devicesGuideline for Hand Hygiene in Health-care Settings. MMWR 2002; vol. 51, no. RR-16.

When to Perform Hand HygieneAfter:

– Contact with blood, body fluids, mucous membranes, secretions, excretions, or non-intact skin

– Removing gloves– Touching surfaces or objects in

the patient’s environment that may be contaminated (light switches, door knobs, patient care equipment, etc.)

– Handling garbage– Using the restroom– Blowing your nose, coughing, or

sneezing

Efficacy of Hand Hygiene Preparations in Killing

BacteriaGood Better Best

Plain soap Antimicrobial soap

Alcohol-based hand rub

Self-reported skin score

Dry

Healthy

Effect of Alcohol-Based Hand Rubs on Skin Condition

Boyce J, Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2000;21(7):438-441.

Benefits of Alcohol-Based Hand Rubs

• Improve skin condition• Require less time• More accessible than sinks• Reduce bacterial counts on hands• More effective for standard hand

washing than soap

Recommended Hand Hygiene Technique

Hand rubs– Apply to palm of one hand, rub

hands together covering all surfaces until dry.

– Manufacturer will instruct how much to use.

Hand washing – Wet hands with water, apply

soap, rub hands together for at least 15 seconds.

– Rinse and dry with disposable towel.

– Use towel to turn off faucet.Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Health-Care Settings. MMWR 2002; vol. 51, no. RR-16.

Gloving• Wear gloves when contact with blood

or other potentially infectious materials is possible.

• Remove gloves after caring for a patient.

• Do not wear the same pair of gloves for the care of more than one person.

• Do not wash gloves.

Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Health-Care Settings. MMWR 2002; vol. 51, no. RR-16.

Fingernails and Artificial Nails

• Natural nail tips should be kept to ¼ inch in length.

• Artificial nails should not be worn when having direct contact with high-risk patients.

Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Health-Care Settings. MMWR 2002; vol. 51, no. RR-16.

PREVENTIONIS PRIMARY!

Hand hygiene protects patients, staff, visitors, and promotes quality healthcare!