Medical Handwashing Assessment

Hand Hygiene in Clinical Settings

• The primary aim of handwashing in clinical settings is to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases and microorganisms.
• Hand hygiene is crucial for both patients and staff to prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAI) and to reduce the risk of cross-infection.

Handwashing Technique

• The recommended duration for washing hands with soap and water is at least 15-30 seconds.
• Handwashing in clinical settings differs from regular handwashing in that it requires a more thorough and systematic approach to ensure removal of all dirt, microorganisms, and transient flora.

Purpose of Hand Hygiene

• The main purpose of good hand hygiene is to reduce the risk of transmission of microorganisms and to prevent HAI.

Surgical Handwashing

• The key reason for performing surgical handwashing is to prevent surgical site infections (SSIs).

Handwashing Procedure

• A typical medical handwashing procedure can last around 40-90 seconds.
• The Five Key Situations described by WHO (the 5 moments in Hand Hygiene) are: 1) before patient contact, 2) before an aseptic task, 3) after body fluid exposure risk, 4) after patient contact, and 5) after contact with patient surroundings.
• Soap and water are the main cleaning agents used in hand washing.
• Jewelry should be removed before starting the handwashing procedure to prevent bacterial accumulation.
• Nothing should be worn below the elbow during handwashing to prevent bacterial colonization.
• After regulating the water temperature, wet hands with warm water.
• Hands should be kept lower than elbows during handwashing to prevent water from flowing back up the arms.
• The friction motion during handwashing should be continued for at least 15-30 seconds.
• A nail brush or nailpick should be used to clean under fingernails during handwashing.
• Hands should be rinsed thoroughly with water flowing towards fingertips to prevent bacteria from flowing back up the arms.
• After patting hands dry with a paper towel, turn off the faucet with a paper towel to prevent re-contamination.