Hand Hygiene OSCE

Question 1

Critical points for hand hygiene

Answer 1

Immediately before any direct patient contact/care

Immediately before aseptic procedures

Immediately after any direct patient care/contact

Immediately after any contact with bodily fluids/mucous membranes/ non intact skin

Immediately after coming into contact with any equipment/objects in the patients immediate environment

Immediately after removal of gloves

Question 2

Why must you wear short sleeved clothing in clinical areas when delivering patient care?

Answer 2

To be able to thoroughly decontaminate hands and wrists

Question 3

Why should you cover cuts or abrasions with a waterproof dressing?

Answer 3

To minimise the risk of cross infection by pathogenic microorganisms

Question 4

Why should you decontaminate your hands after removing your gloves?

Answer 4

Gloved may tear/puncture, allowing the transfer of microorganisms

Question 5

Why are alcohol based hand sanitisers a good alternative to hand washing?

Answer 5

More effective
Quicker to use
Better tolerated by the skin
Can be used directly at the point of care

Question 6

When must you wash your hands with soap and water?

Answer 6

After several uses of alcohol based hand sanitisers

If your hands are visibly soiled

When caring for patients with vomiting diarrhoea illness regardless of whether gloves
are worn or not

After using the toilet

Before handling food

Question 7

Why should healthcare staff not use a bar soap for hand washing?

Answer 7

Hand soaps may harbour and encourage the growth of microorganisms

Question 8

When are antiseptic solution usages in hand washing recommended?

Answer 8

When higher level of hand hygiene is necessary eg before undertaking invasive procedures (surgery)

Question 9

Why are antiseptic solutions NOT recommended in routine hand washing?

Answer 9

Contact dermatitis commonly reported with antiseptic agents containing substances such as :
iodine and chlorhexidine

Question 10

Why are nail brushes for routine social hand washing NOT recommended?

Answer 10

Act as a vector for transferring microorganisms from one person to another

Question 11

When are nail brushes recommended and which type?

Answer 11

Surgical hand scrubbing.

Single use nail brushes.

Question 12

What toll does frequent hand washing take on the skin?

Answer 12

Irritation of the skin
Dry skin

Question 13

What must you do during your hand washing routine to limit the damaging effects on the skin?

Answer 13

Always wet hands before applying the soap

Dry hands by patting with paper towels thoroughly rather than rubbing

Question 14

Why are wall-mounted dispensers preferred in health care settings over tubes of hand creams?

Answer 14

Tubes act as a vector for transferring microorganisms from one person to another

Question 15

Step 1 of hand washing?

Answer 15

Wet them first

Question 16

Step 2 of hand washing?

Answer 16

Apply enough soap to cover all surfaces of the hands

Question 17

Step 3 of hand washing?

Answer 17

Lather the soap well
Rub palm to palm,
Ensure that hands are not under running water

Question 18

Step 4 of hand washing

Answer 18

Palm to back of hand with fingers over laced repeats with other hand

(Decontaminating the back of the hands by rubbing palm of another hand on it)

Question 19

Step 5 of hand washing

Answer 19

Palm to palm, fingers interlaced
Decontaminating interdigital spaces

Question 20

Step 6 of hand washing

Answer 20

Fingers interlocked
Decontaminate back of fingers

Question 21

Step 7 of hand washing

Answer 21

Rub each thumb n each palm rotating movement

Question 22

Step 8 of hand washing

Answer 22

Rub fingertips of one hand onto mothers palm
Decontaminating fingers and nails

Question 23

Step 9 of hand washing

Answer 23

Rub each wrist rotating

Question 24

Step 10 of hand washing

Answer 24

Rinse hands and wrist
Do not touch taps

Question 25

Step 11 of hand washing

Answer 25

Dry hands dispose off paper towel as domestic waste