3. Hand Hygiene Flashcards
How should you wash your hands?
6 step hand washing
What are the 6 steps of hand washing?
Palm to palm.
Right palm over left dorsum and left palm over right dorsum.
Palm to palm, fingers interlaced.
Backs of fingers (knuckles) to opposing palms with fingers interlocked.
Rotational rubbing of right palm clasped in left palm then vice versa.
Rotational rubbing backwards and forwards with clasped fingers of hand in left palm then vice versa.
What areas does the 6 step handwashing technique clean?
Palms Backs of hands Spaces between fingers Backs of fingers - knuckles Thumbs Finger tips Wrists
What accessories should be removed before handwashing?
Watches, rings (allowed wedding ring if it’s a plain band), bracelets, false nails, nail polish, skin abrasions should be covered
What is the NHS policy on wearing jewellery as a healthcare worker?
Only allowed one ring (wedding band) and one set of earrings (lobe).
No necklaces, bracelets, watches etc allowed.
What is a resident microorganism?
Lives naturally on the skin
Not readily transferred to other people or surfaces
Difficult to remove from the skin
In most cases don’t tend to cause infection
What are transient microorganisms?
Come and go depending on hand contact in the course of a day.
Easily picked up and passed on to others.
Can be removed or killed easily by performing hand hygiene with liquid soap and water or using alcohol-based hand gels/rubs.
What should you do before hand hygiene?
Ensure sink is free from clutter
Ensure wrists and forearms are exposed
Remove watches, bracelets, rings etc.
Ensure fingernails are clean and short & artificial products removed
Cover cuts/abrasions with a waterproof dressing
How long should you wash your hands for?
40-60 seconds
How should you dry your hands?
Patting not rubbing
How long should you hand sanitise for?
20-30 seconds using the same technique as hand washing
When would hand sanitising not be satisfactory?
In between patients
When hands are visibly soiled
What are non-antimicrobial soaps?
Detergent-based products.
Minimal antimicrobial activity.
Will remove loosely adherent transient micro-organisms along with dirt and organic matter.
Result in good hand hygiene and reduce micro-organisms through physical action and the detergent effect.
What are antimicrobial soaps?
Cause an increased reduction in the number of transient and resident micro-organisms found on hands than the use of soap alone.
Many have a residual effect, preventing growth for several hours.
e.g. chlorhexidine, iodine
What are alcohol-based hand rubs?
More effective than non-antimicrobial soap
As effective as antimicrobial soap in reducing micro-organisms
Should not be used when caring for a Pt with GIT infection e.g. norovirus or c. diff
Why should you wash your hands before touching a patient?
To protect the patient against colonisation and against exogenous infection by harmful germs on your hands
Why should you wash your hands after touching patient surroundings?
To protect you from colonisation with patient germs that may be present on surfaces/objects in patient surroundings and to protect the health-care environment against germ spread.
What other occasions should you perform hand hygiene? In reference to the dental environment.
On arrival at work Before putting on gloves Before preparing and giving medications Before and after using a computer keyboard After using the toilet After handling waste After blowing/touching your nose Before leaving work
Why do people fail to comply with hand hygiene?
Skin irritation Inaccessible hand hygiene facilities Patient needs are a priority over hand hygiene Forgetfulness Insufficient time Lack of risk awareness
What is the preferred solution to be used when hands are not visibly soiled?
Alcohol-based hand gels
Which areas are frequently missed in hand washing?
Finger tips
Thumbs
In between fingers
What are the 5 moments for hand hygiene?
Before touching the patient Before clean/aseptic procedure After body fluid exposure risk After touching a patient After touching patient surroundings
