Handwashing: Fundamentals of Nursing PDF

# Handwashing ## First Year ### Fundamentals of Nursing Dr. Arzak Mohamed Khalif Lecturer of Medical Surgical Nursing ## Objectives At the end of this lecture, the students should be able to: 1. Differentiate between the flora organisms. 2. Define hand washing. 3. List the organisms that can be p...

# Handwashing ## First Year ### Fundamentals of Nursing Dr. Arzak Mohamed Khalif Lecturer of Medical Surgical Nursing ## Objectives At the end of this lecture, the students should be able to: 1. Differentiate between the flora organisms. 2. Define hand washing. 3. List the organisms that can be prevented by hand washing. 4. List purposes of hand washing. 5. List indications of hand washing. 6. Follow the steps of hand washing technique. ## Introduction Hand washing, when done correctly, is the single most effective way in infection control to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. Hand hygiene is the simplest, most effective measure for preventing nosocomial infections. ## Chain of Infection ### Next Sick Person (Susceptible Host) - Babies - Children - Elderly - People with a weakened immune system - Unimmunized people - Anyone ### How Germs Get In (Portal of Entry) - Mouth - Cuts in the skin - Eyes ### Germs (Agent) - Bacteria - Viruses - Parasites ### Where Germs Live (Reservoir) - People - Animals/Pets (dogs, cats, reptiles) - Wild animals - Food - Soil - Water ### Germs Get Around (Mode of Transmission) - Contact (hands, toys, sand) - Droplets (when you speak, sneeze, or cough) ### How Germs Get Out (Portal of Exit) - Mouth (vomit, saliva) - Cuts in the skin (blood) - During diapering and toileting (stool) ## Types of Hand Hygiene - **Basic hand wash**: Plain liquid soap and water (hand wash). - **Antiseptic hand hygiene**: Using antiseptic soap or plain liquid soap followed by alcohol hand rub. - **Surgical scrub**: Prolonged procedure for theatre or aseptic procedure. ## Microorganisms Found on the Hands (Flora) Are classified into the following categories: 1. Resident flora 2. Transient flora ### Resident Flora Known as normal flora, normally live and grow in the epidermis and dermis (deep layers of skin). Resident flora are generally harmless and non-pathogenic. Because resident flora are attached to the deeper skin layer, they are more difficult to remove from the skin and are usually killed only by washing the hands with an antimicrobial agent. ### Transient Flora Live and grow on the superficial skin layers (epidermis), they are picked up on the hands in the course of daily activities. Transient flora are often pathogenic, but because they are superficial to the skin, they can be removed easily by washing hands with water and soap. ## Definition of Hand Washing Cleaning hands and wrists with rubbing together of all surfaces of lathered hands under a stream of warm water using soap or antimicrobial soap. ## Purposes of Handwashing 1. Maintain a safe, clean environment for the patient. 2. Prevent cross-contamination of patients or the spread of infection, especially nosocomial infection. 3. Prevent transmission of infection to other healthcare workers. 4. Prevent transmission of infection to oneself. ## What Types of Diseases Can Be Prevented by Hand Washing? 1. Diseases spread through fecal-oral transmission, such as: - Shigellosis - Enterovirus - HA - E. coli 2. Hand washing also prevents diseases spread through indirect transmission, such as: - Influenza - Streptococcal Disease - Common Cold 3. Hand washing also prevents disease spread through body fluids such as urine, stool, blood, saliva, sweat (staphylococcal organisms). ## You Should Wash Your Hands: - **Always** before - **Sometimes** during - **Always** after ## Essential Instances or Indications for Handwashing 1. At the beginning of every shift. 2. After touching excretions (feces, urine, or material soiled with them) or secretion (from wounds, infected skin, etc.). 3. Before and after caring for the patient. 4. Before and after invasive procedures such as suctioning. 5. Before preparing and administering medications. 6. Before serving food. 7. After personal bathroom use. 8. When there is a doubt. ## Alcohol Hand Rub - Contains usually 70% alcohol. - Used to destroy transient and reduce resident organisms. - Doesn't remove soil. - Not suitable for dirty procedures or when hands are visibly soiled. ## Procedure of Hand Washing 1. Wet your hands with warm running water. 2. Apply liquid or bar soap. 3. Away from the running water, rub your hands together and make a soapy lather. Scrub all surfaces: the front, the back, and under your fingernails. Take ~15-20 seconds. 4. Rinse well under warm running water to remove the germs, and dry your hands with a clean towel. Turn off the water with a paper towel. ## Thank You The image shows a single white rose with green leaves and a dark background.