Week 7 - Handwashing / donning and doffing Flashcards
Why is hand hygiene so important?
-Reduces the risk of healthcare associated infections
Facts about HCAIs
-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
What does hand washing do?
-Physically removes visible dirt / organic matter
Reduces the levels of both:
->Resident bacteria – Bacteria that is naturally found on your skin:
-Acts as our defence
-Not as easily transmitted
-Significant to vulnerable or susceptible patients (e.g. low immune system)
->Transient bacteria / Viruses – “Hospital flora” ; picked up from the hospital environment
-Carried on our hands temporarily
-Easily transmitted – easy to pass on
-Easily removed
Three levels of hand hygiene
Social level :
-Uses soap and water
-Removes transient bacteria
Aseptic / antiseptic :
Uses either:
-Antimicrobial detergent (antimicrobial soap)
-Alcohol hand gel (already clean and dry hands)
-Soap & water PLUS alcohol hand gel (if hands visibly
dirty)
-Removes transient bacteria and reduced the level of resident
bacteria
Surgical :
-Uses antimicrobial detergent
-2 – 5 min surgical scrub hand washing technique
-Surgical theatres
What are the five moments of hand hygiene?
1)Before patient contact
2)Before a clean / aseptic procedure
3)After patient contact
4)After body fluid exposure risk
5)After contact with patient surroundings
Donning and doffing
-The correct application (“Donning”) and removal (“Doffing”) of standard personal protective equipment (PPE)
PPE consists of:
-Mask
-Apron
-Eye protection (visor)
-Gloves
->In critical care areas (ITU) – more robust PPE required
Donning (order):
Apron -> surgical mask -> eye protection -> gloves
Doffing (order):
Gloves (removing from inside) -> hand hygiene -> snap apron ties and allow to fall forward -> eye protection (once outside of room) -> hand hygiene -> surgical mask -> hand hygiene
