Proper Handwashing Guidelines in Clinical Settings
CDC emphasizes the importance of hand hygiene in preventing the spread of pathogens. Proper handwashing involves using soap and warm water, rubbing hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds, rinsing well, and drying with a single-use towel. It is recommended to wash hands after specific activities to prevent contamination. While hand sanitizers can be used as an adjunct, they are not endorsed as a replacement for handwashing with soap and water.
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Proper Handwashing Clinical Rotation
CDC Centers for Disease Control Since person-to-person spread can play a significant role in the spread of some enteric pathogens, hand hygiene is a critical element of any outbreak prevention and control strategy. CDC has created hand washing guidelines for the public, particularly those in the service industries.
Steps to proper hand washing... Hands should be washed using soap and warm, running water Hands should be rubbed vigorously during washing for at least 20 seconds with special attention paid to the backs of the hands, wrists, between the fingers and under the fingernails Hands should be rinsed well while leaving the water running With the water running, hands should be dried with a single-use towel Turn off the water using a paper towel, covering washed hands to prevent re-contamination.
Hands should be washed after the following activities: After touching bare human body parts other than clean hands and clean, exposed portions of arms After using the toilet After coughing, sneezing, using a handkerchief or disposable tissue, using tobacco, eating or drinking After handling soiled equipment or utensils After food preparation, as often as necessary to remove soil and contamination and to prevent cross- contamination when changing tasks After switching between working with raw food and working with ready-to-eat food After engaging in other activities that contaminate the hands.
THE VSP DOES NOT ENDORSE THE USE OF HAND SANITIZERS IN LIEU OF HANDWASHING WITH SOAP AND WARM, RUNNING WATER. HAND SANITIZERS CONTAINING 60-90% ETHYL ALCOHOL OR ISOPROPANOL IN CONCENTRATION WITH EQUIVALENT SANITIZING STRENGTH, MAY BE USED AS AN ADJUNCT TO PROPER HANDWASHING.
Hands that heal or hands that harm? Hand washing for medical professionals
Alcohol-based hand rub. An alcohol-containing preparation designed for application to the hands for reducing the number of viable microorganisms on the hands. In the United States, such preparations usually contain 60%--95% ethanol or isopropanol. Antimicrobial soap. Soap (i.e., detergent) containing an antiseptic agent. Antiseptic agent. Antimicrobial substances that are applied to the skin to reduce the number of microbial flora. Examples include alcohols, chlorhexidine, chlorine, hexachlorophene, iodine, chloroxylenol (PCMX), quaternary ammonium compounds, and triclosan. Antiseptic handwash. Washing hands with water and soap or other detergents containing an antiseptic agent.
Antiseptic hand rub. Applying an antiseptic hand-rub product to all surfaces of the hands to reduce the number of microorganisms present. Cumulative effect. A progressive decrease in the numbers of microorganisms recovered after repeated applications of a test material. Decontaminate hands. To Reduce bacterial counts on hands by performing antiseptic hand rub or antiseptic handwash. Detergent. Detergents (i.e., surfactants) are compounds that possess a cleaning action. Although products used for handwashing or antiseptic handwash in health-care settings represent various types of detergents, the term "soap" is used to refer to such detergents in this guideline.
Hand antisepsis. Refers to either antiseptic handwash or antiseptic hand rub. Hand hygiene. A general term that applies to either handwashing, antiseptic handwash, antiseptic hand rub, or surgical hand antisepsis. Substantivity. Substantivity is an attribute of certain active ingredients that adhere to the stratum corneum (i.e., remain on the skin after rinsing or drying) to provide an inhibitory effect on the growth of bacteria remaining on the skin. Surgical hand antisepsis. Antiseptic handwash or antiseptic hand rub performed preoperatively by surgical personnel to eliminate transient and reduce resident hand flora. Antiseptic detergent preparations often have persistent antimicrobial activity.
Every year, many lives are lost because of the spread of infections in hospitals. Health care workers can take steps to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. These steps are part of infection control. Proper hand washing is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infections in hospitals!
Other steps health care workers can take include: Covering coughs & sneezes Staying up-to-date with immunizations Using gloves, masks & protective clothing Making tissues & hand cleaners available Following guidelines when dealing with blood or contaminated items
Samples of diseases common to medical settings
Acinetobacter Acinetobacter [asz in e toe back ter] is a group of bacteria commonly found in soil and water. Outbreaks of Acinetobacter infections typically occur in intensive care units and healthcare settings housing very ill patients. While there are many types or species of Acinetobacter and all can cause human disease, Acinetobacter baumannii [asz in e toe back ter b maa nee ie] accounts for about 80% of reported infections. Acinetobacter infections rarely occur outside of healthcare settings.
Burkholderia cepacia Burkholderia cepacia [burk h ld er uh si pay shee uh] is the name for a group or "complex" of bacteria that can be found in soil and water. Burkholderia cepacia bacteria are often resistant to common antibiotics. Burkholderia cepacia poses little medical risk to healthy people; however, it is a known cause of infections in hospitalized patients. People with certain health conditions, like weakened immune systems or chronic lung diseases (particularly cystic fibrosis), may be more susceptible to infections with Burkholderia cepacia.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of staph bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics called beta-lactams. These antibiotics include methicillin and other more common antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin, and amoxicillin. In the community, most MRSA infections are skin infections. More severe or potentially life-threatening MRSA infections occur most frequently among patients in healthcare settings.
