Hand hygiene

Question 1

What are the 5 moments of hand hygiene?

Answer 1

Before touching a patient
Before clean/aseptic procedures
After body fluid exposure/risk
After touching a patient
After touching a patient's surroundings

Question 2

What are some hazards of hand hygiene products?

Answer 2

Skin irritation, accidental eye splashes, igestion and fire hazard.

Question 3

What are the two types of microorganisms found on hands?

Answer 3

Transient and resident.

Question 4

When should patients wash their hands?

Answer 4

Before meals and after the toliets.

Question 5

What is the difference between transient and resident microorganisms?

Answer 5

Transient: found on skin surface, picked up from surroundings and easily spread.
Resident: found on 1st skin layer, natural.

Question 6

When is alcohol-based hand rub not recommended for?

Answer 6

For visibility soiled hands and when caring for a patient with vomiting or diarrhoea.

Question 7

When is alcohol-based hand rub recommended for?

Answer 7

Routine hand decontamination, at the point of care and to remove transient organisms.

Question 8

When is hand washing with liquid soap and water used?

Answer 8

For visibly soiled hands, if patient has vomit, diarrhoea, c diff or norovirus and after several applications of hand rub.

Question 9

When is hand washing with antiseptic solutions used?

Answer 9

Removing transient and reducing resident organisms, used before surgery and other invasive procedures and used during infection outbreak.