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

Resident needs take priority

Low risk of acquiring infection from residents

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

Clean Hands Save Lives

Clean 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 resident safety and prevents infections

Reduces 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 resident– 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 devices

Guideline 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 resident’s environment that may be contaminated (bed rails, bedside tables, light switches, etc.)

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

sneezing

Efficacy of Hand Hygiene Preparations in Killing

Bacteria

Good 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 resident.

• 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 residents.

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

PREVENTIONIS PRIMARY!

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