W4 Hand hygiene / Donning and Doffing & PPE

Question 1

Why is hand washing so important?

Answer 1

Reduces the risk of healthcare associated infections

Question 2

Facts about Healthcare associated Infections

Answer 2

• Impact on patients: Suffering/ pain and in some cases death
• Increase length of patient stay (x3 longer)
• Cost to the NHS (£3000 per case)
• 30% of HCAIs are AVOIDABLE

Question 3

What does hand washing do? (2)

Answer 3

1. Physically removes visible dirt
2. Reduces the levels of both resident and transient bacteria/viruses

Question 4

What is resident bacteria?

Answer 4

• Bacteria that is naturally found on your skin
• Acts as our defence
• Not as easily transmitted
• Significant to vulnerable or susceptible patients

Question 5

What is transient bacteria/viruses

Answer 5

“Hospital flora”
Picked up from the hospital environment
Carried on our hands temporarily
Easily transmitted- easy to pass on
Easily removed

Question 6

What is donning and doffing?

Answer 6

The correct application and removal of standard personal protective equipment (PPE)

Question 7

What does basic PPE consist of?

Answer 7

Mask
Apron
Eye protection (visor)
Goggles

Question 8

What are the three types of hand hygiene?

Answer 8

Social:
- Uses soap and water
- Removes transient bacteria

Aseptic/antiseptic:
-Uses antimicrobial detergent (antimicrobial soap)
- Alcohol hand gel (already clean and dry hands)
- Soap and water PLUS alcohol hand gel (if hands visibly dirty)

Surgical:
- Uses antimicrobial detergent
- 2-5 min surgical scrub hand washing technique

Question 9

What are the 5 moments of hand hygiene?

Answer 9

1. Before patient contact
2. Before a clean/aseptic procedure
3. After body fluid exposure risk
4. After patient contact
5. After contact with patient surroundings

Question 10

What is the correct application of “Glo-germ”?
What are the commonly missed areas of hand-washing?

Answer 10

• Apply the “glo-germ” to your hands as if it was alcohol hand gel.
• Stoned jewellery and long nails, wrist jewellery.

Question 11

How long should you wash your hands (song) ?
What are the steps?

Answer 11

Sing “Happy birthday” 2x (around 20 secs)
1. Wet your hands with water
2. Apply enough soap to cover your hands
3. Rub your hands together
4. Use 1 hand to rub the back of the other hand and clean in between the fingers. Do the same with the other hand.
5. Rub your hands together and clean in between your fingers.
6. Rub the back of your fingers against your palms.
7. Rub your thumb using your other hand. Do the same with the other thumb.
8. Rub the tips of your fingers on the palm of your other hand. Do the same with other hand.
9. Rinse your hands with water.
10. Dry your hands completely with a disposable towel.
11. Use the disposable towel to turn off the tap.

Question 12

What are the steps in donning and doffing of PPE?

Answer 12

Donning: (putting on)
1. Put on your plastic APRON making sure it is lied securely at the back.
2. Put on your surgical face mask if tied, make sure securely tied at crown and nape of neck. Once it covers the nose make sure it is extended to cover your mouth and chin
3. Put your on eye protection if there is risk of splashing
4. Put on non-sterile gloves

Doffing: (taking off)
1. Remove gloves, grasp the outside of the cuff of the glove and peel off, hold the glove in the gloved hand, insert the finger underneath and peel off second glove.
2. Perform hand hygiene using alcohol hand gel or soap and water
3. Snap or unfasten apron ties at the neck and allow apron to fall forward in on itself, dont handle outside, put into bin
4. Remove eye protection (outside patient room)
5. Perform hand hygiene
6. Remove surgical mask
7. Wash hands with soap and water.