Wash, Wipe, Cover…. Don’t infect another!

Your guide to better hand and respiratory hygiene

www.health.sa.gov.au/infectioncontrol

Infection Control Service - March 2008

• What is hand and respiratory hygiene?

• Why is it important?

• How to ‘Wash’

• How to ‘Wipe’

• How to ‘Cover’

• Summary

Outline

Why is hand and respiratory hygiene important?

• Hand hygiene is the most effective measure

to prevent infection

• Respiratory hygiene is crucial in limiting

spread of colds and influenza

• Personal skills and a knowledge of hand &

respiratory hygiene can prevent the spread of

infection

What is hand and respiratory hygiene?

Hand hygiene• Wash/decontaminate your hands when appropriate

Respiratory Hygiene • Clean hands after sneezing, coughing, or blowing

your nose • Keep hands away from eyes, nose and mouth

Cough etiquette• Sneeze/cough/blow your nose into a tissue• If no tissue: use upper arm (not hands)• Turn away from others when sneezing or coughing

How to ‘Wash’

Hand hygiene can be achieved by:• Washing with soap & water, or applying an alcohol

hand-rub

• Rub soap or hand-rub over all surfaces of the hands, paying particular attention to:– finger tips and between fingers– backs of hands– base of thumbs

• Clean hands for at least 10-15 secs with warm running water (soap & water) or until dry (hand-rub)

• Dry thoroughly with clean paper/cloth towel

When to ‘Wash’

In Healthcare Settings:– before & after patient contact– before & after invasive procedures or dressings– before moving to different body sites on same patient– after removing gloves and other PPE

At other times:– after going to the toilet– before & after handling food– after sneezing, coughing, blowing nose– after caring for someone who is sick– after changing a nappy– after handling rubbish– after smoking

How to ‘Wipe’

• Equipment and surfaces can easily become contaminated with disease causing germs

• Wiping down surfaces and equipment can prevent cross contamination

• Areas that need to be kept clean are commonly touched items and shared surfaces:

– computer keyboards, phones

– kitchen benches, door handles, taps, etc.

• Detergent and water is all that is required for general cleaning (not disinfectants)

• Its important to keep cleaning equipment clean and dry between uses

How to ‘Cover’

• Covering your coughs and sneezes will prevent the dispersal of germs into the air

• Use a tissue or your upper arm to cover your coughs and sneezes, not your hands!

• Turn away from other people when you cough or sneeze

• Dispose of used tissues immediately

• Clean your hands after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose

Summary

• Wash your hands,

• Wipe frequently touched cleaning surfaces,

• Cover your coughs and sneezes:

and you will reduce the risk of getting sick or passing infections on to others

…….don’t infect another!

References

Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. Infection control guidelines for the prevention of transmission of infectious diseases in the health care setting. Canberra. 2004.

Boyce JM, Pittet D. Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Health-care Settings. MMWR 2002; vol. 51,. 2002;51:1-45

World Health Organisation. WHO guidelines on hand hygiene in health care (advanced draft). Geneva. 2006