Hand Hygiene in Medical Settings

Hand Hygiene in Medical Settings

• Crucial infection control practice to protect patients and healthcare workers.
• Standard precautions are a set of infection control practices applied to all patients, regardless of infection status.
• Standard precautions reduce the risk of transmission of infectious agents.
• Components of standard precautions include hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, aseptic technique, sharp safety, safe injection practices, sterilization and disinfection, respiratory hygiene, waste disposal, and environmental infection prevention.
• Hand hygiene techniques include handwashing and alcohol-based hand sanitizing.

Handwashing Technique

• Wet hands with clean running water.
• Apply soap to cover all surfaces.
• Rub hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds.
• Rinse thoroughly with water.
• Dry hands with a clean towel.

Hand Sanitizing

• Apply a sufficient amount of alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Rub hands together until they are dry.
• Ensure all surfaces of the hands are covered.

Importance of Hand Hygiene

• Infection Prevention: Reduces the risk of transmitting infectious diseases.
• Patient Safety: Creates a safer environment for patients.
• Hospital Acquired Infections: Minimizes the incidence of hospital-acquired infections.
• Community Health: Prevents the spread of infections in the broader community.

Five Moments for Hand Hygiene

• Before touching a patient.
• Before aseptic procedures.
• After exposure to bodily fluids.
• After touching a patient.
• After touching patient surroundings.

Types of Hand Hygiene

• Handwashing: Most effective way to remove germs.
• Hand Sanitizing: Quick and convenient alternative when soap and water are unavailable.
• Surgical Hand Antisepsis: Uses an antiseptic solution to reduce the number of germs on the hands before surgical procedures.

Standard Precautions

• A set of infection control practices used for all patients, regardless of suspected or confirmed infection status.
• Aim is to reduce the risk of transmission of infectious agents.
• Consistent application is crucial for a safe healthcare environment.

Components of Standard Precautions

• Hand hygiene
• Personal protective equipment
• Aseptic technique
• Sharp safety
• Safe injection practices
• Sterilization and disinfection of patient care equipment
• Respiratory hygiene/Cough etiquette
• Waste disposal
• Environmental infection prevention and control

Handwashing Techniques

• Wet hands with clean water (warm or cold)
• Apply enough soap to cover all surfaces
• Rub hands together for at least 20 seconds
• Rinse thoroughly
• Dry hands with a clean towel

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Gloves: prevent contact with blood, body fluids, mucous membranes, or non-intact skin.
• Gowns: protect skin and clothing from contamination.
• Masks and Face Shields: protect mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, and mouth.

Cleaning and Disinfection

• Cleaning: Removes visible dirt, debris, and organic matter.
• Disinfection: Apply an EPA-registered disinfectant to kill remaining microorganisms.

Sharps and Waste Handling

• Sharps Disposal: Use puncture-proof, leak-proof containers for needles, scalpels, and other sharp instruments.
• Waste Segregation: Separate general waste from infectious and hazardous waste.

Respiratory Hygiene and Cough Etiquette

• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or elbow.
• Dispose of tissues.
• Wear a mask if experiencing respiratory symptoms.

The Role of Hand Hygiene in Infection Prevention

• Hand Hygiene Basics: Removes germs and prevents their spread.
• Pathogen Control: Stops the transmission of harmful microorganisms.
• Healthcare Safety: Protects patients and staff from infections.
• Interpersonal Interactions: Reduces the spread of illnesses between people.

Common Misconceptions about Hand Hygiene

• Handwashing is sufficient for infection control: Alcohol-based sanitizers are also effective.
• Alcohol-based rubs are not as effective as soap and water: They are effective when soap and water are not available.
• Wearing gloves replaces the need for hand hygiene: Hand hygiene is still essential even when wearing gloves.
• Busy schedules prevent consistent hand hygiene practices: Hand hygiene is a priority, and time should be allocated for it.

Pathogen Transmission in Healthcare Settings

• Patients and staff are in close contact increasing the risk of infection spread.
• Contaminated surfaces, equipment, and lack of hand hygiene enable pathogens to spread.
• Airborne, droplet, and contact transmission routes are common in hospitals and clinics.

Defining Appropriate Hand Hygiene Techniques

• Handwashing: Thorough cleansing with soap and water.
• Alcohol-based Rubs: Quick disinfection using sanitizing gels/foams.

Five Moments for Hand Hygiene

• Before patient contact
• Before aseptic task
• After body fluid exposure
• After patient contact
• After contact with patient surroundings

Types of Hand Hygiene

• Handwashing: Most effective way to remove germs, dirt, and contaminants using soap and water.
• Hand Sanitizing: A quick and convenient way to kill germs when soap and water are not available.
• Surgical Hand Antisepsis: Uses an antiseptic solution to reduce germs on hands before surgical procedures.

Hand Washing Steps

• Wet hands with running water.
• Apply soap and lather well.
• Scrub hands for at least 20 seconds.
• Rinse thoroughly.
• Dry hands with a clean towel.

Hand Sanitizing Steps

• Dispense hand sanitizer to cover all surfaces of hands.
• Rub hands together thoroughly for at least 20 seconds.

Importance of Hand Hygiene

• Infection Prevention: It's a cornerstone of infection prevention dramatically reducing the risk of transmitting infectious diseases.
• Patient Safety: Contributing to a safer environment for patients.
• Hospital Acquired Infections: Minimizing the incidence of healthcare-associated infections.
• Community Health: Protecting both patients and the broader community.