Hand washing Introduction to Standard Precautions and Infection Control Practices

Why???? Reduces spread of disease from: – –patient to patient – –patient to health care professional – –health care professional to patient – –Health care professional to health care professional – –Visitor to patient

Nosocomial Infections Nosocomial Infection = infection obtained in a hospital or healthcare facility Good hand washing reduces nosocomial infections Occur as the result of treatment in a hospital or other healthcare setting, but secondary to the patients’ original condition – –First appears within 48 hours or more after admission or – –Appears within 30 days after discharge The hospital is responsible for the cost of nosocomial infections

When to Wash Up… At a minimum, OSHA recommends hand washing: At a minimum, OSHA recommends hand washing: – –Before and after every patient contact – –After removing gloves and other protective wear – –After handling blood or other body fluids – –When visibly contaminated with blood or tissues – –Before leaving the patient area – –Before and after eating, applying makeup, using the bathroom, handling contact lenses, handling equipment

Proper hand washing techniques Soap (aids in the removal of pathogens) Warm water Friction All surfaces of the hands must be cleaned – palms, backs, between the fingers. Nails must be cleaned Wash for seconds (happy birthday song)

Proper hand washing techniques Fingertips should be pointed downward – prevents water from getting on forearms and then running back down onto the hands and recontaminating them. Dry paper towels are used to turn faucet on and off – prevents contamination of hands from organisms on the faucet.

Hand Sanitizer Hospitals use sanitizers that are alcohol based Kill microbes chemically Use if hands aren’t visibly soiled – –If hands are visibly dirty, you must wash your hands with soap and warm water

Benefits of Hand Sanitizer Faster than hand washing Kills microorganisms quickly More accessible than sinks Reduce bacterial counts on hands Less irritating than soap and water

How to use hand sanitizer You cannot use hand sanitizer if your hands are visibly soiled Apply a quarter-sized amount to the palm of one hand Rub hands together covering all surfaces of hands and fingers Rub until sanitizer is absorbed