WR-10.ppt%20%20%201

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Effective Handwashing

• Presented By
• KimCare Skin Care Products

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Agenda

• Why Should We Wash Our Hands?
• A Few Definitions
• When Should We Wash Our Hands?
• How Should We Wash Our Hands?
• Handwashing and Gloves
• Alcohol Gels

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Source

• APIC Guideline for Handwashing and Hand
  Antisepsis in Health Care Settings
• Elaine L. Larson, RN, PhD, FAAN, CIC
• Printed in the American Journal of Infection
  Control
• Vol. 23, No. 4, pp 251-269, August 1995

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WHY Should We Wash Our Hands?
?
?
?

• Source APIC Guideline for Handwashing and Hand
  Antisepsis in Health Care Settings

5
It is known that handwashing causes a
significant reduction in the carriage of
potential pathogens on the hands.
Source APIC Guideline for Handwashing and Hand
Antisepsis in Health Care Settings
6
Handwashing can result in reductions in patient
morbidity and mortality from nosocomial
infection. Source APIC Guideline for
Handwashing and Hand Antisepsis in Health Care
Settings
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Definitions

• Source APIC Guideline for Handwashing and
• Hand Antisepsis in Health Care Settings

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Handwash(ing)

• A process for the removal of soil and transient
  microorganisms from the hands.

Source APIC Guideline for Handwashing and Hand
Antisepsis in Health Care Settings
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Hand Antisepsis

• A process for the
• removal or destruction
• of transient microorganisms.

Source APIC Guideline for Handwashing and Hand
Antisepsis in Health Care Settings
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Plain or Nonantimicrobial Soap

• Detergent-based cleansers in any form (e.g. bar,
  liquid, etc.) used for the primary purpose of
  physical removal of dirt and contaminating
  microorganisms.
• Work principally by mechanical action and have no
  bacterial activity.

Source APIC Guideline for Handwashing and Hand
Antisepsis in Health Care Settings
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Antimicrobial Soap

• A soap containing an ingredient with in-vitro and
  in-vivo activity against skin flora.

Source APIC Guideline for Handwashing and Hand
Antisepsis in Health Care Settings
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Health Care Personnel Handwash

• A broad-spectrum, anti-microbial preparation that
  is fast-acting, non-irritating, and designed for
  frequent use that reduces the number of transient
  flora on intact skin to a baseline level.

Source APIC Guideline for Handwashing and Hand
Antisepsis in Health Care Settings
13
Transient Flora

• Microorganisms isolated from the skin but not
  demonstrated to be consistently present in the
  majority of persons.
• A.K.A. contaminating flora or noncolonizing
  flora.

Source APIC Guideline for Handwashing and Hand
Antisepsis in Health Care Settings
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Resident Flora

• Microorganisms persistently isolated from the
  skin of most persons. These microorganisms are
  considered permanent residents of the skin and
  are not readily removed by mechanical friction.
• A.K.A. colonizing flora

Source APIC Guideline for Handwashing and Hand
Antisepsis in Health Care Settings
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WHEN Should We Wash Our Hands?
?
?
?

• Source APIC Guideline for Handwashing and Hand
  Antisepsis in Health Care Settings

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The decision regarding when handwashing should
occur depends on
WHEN Should We Wash Our Hands?

• The intensity of contact with patients.
• The degree of contamination that is likely to
  occur with that contact.
• The susceptibility of patients to infection.
• The procedure to be performed.

Source APIC Guideline for Handwashing and Hand
Antisepsis in Health Care Settings
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WHEN Should We Wash Our Hands?
Hands must be washed thoroughly with soap and
water . . .

• When visibly soiled
• Before and after patient contact
• After contact with a source of microorganisms
• After removing gloves

Source APIC Guideline for Handwashing and Hand
Antisepsis in Health Care Settings
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WHEN Should We Wash Our Hands?

• Before the performance of invasive procedures.
• When persistent antimicrobial
• activity on the hands is desired.
• When it is important to reduce
• numbers of resident skin flora in addition to
  transient microorganisms.

Source APIC Guideline for Handwashing and Hand
Antisepsis in Health Care Settings
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HOW Should We Wash Our Hands?
?
?
?

• Source APIC Guideline for Handwashing and Hand
  Antisepsis in Health Care Settings

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HOW Should We Wash Our Hands?

• Wet hands with running water.
• Apply soap. Thoroughly distribute soap over all
  hand surfaces.
• Vigorously rub hands together for 10-15 seconds.
• Rinse soap.
• Dry hands with a disposable towel.
• Turn water off using a disposable towel (unless
  foot operated).

Source APIC Guideline for Handwashing and Hand
Antisepsis in Health Care Settings
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A Few Helpful Tips . . .

• Be sure to thoroughly wash all skin surfaces.
• Pay close attention to hard-to-reach areas
• Between the fingers
• Finger tips
• Under the nails
• Use a nail brush if necessary
• Use warm water not too hot, not too cold

Source APIC Guideline for Handwashing and Hand
Antisepsis in Health Care Settings
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A Few Other Suggestions . . .

• Lotions
• Lotions may be used to prevent skin dryness.
• Jewelry
• Total bacterial counts are higher when rings are
  worn.

Source APIC Guideline for Handwashing and Hand
Antisepsis in Health Care Settings
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Handwashing and Gloves
Soap and water handwash or an antiseptic handrub
should be used after glove removal. Compatibil
ity between lotion and antiseptic products on
the integrity of gloves should be considered
Source APIC Guideline for Handwashing and Hand
Antisepsis in Health Care Settings
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Alcohol Gels
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Alcohol Gel Waterless Hand Antiseptics

• Use high concentrations of alcohol to provide
  hand antisepsis
• Usually 60-65 ethyl alcohol
• Do not require water
• Do not require hand drying with a towel

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Alcohol Gel Waterless Hand Antiseptics

• May provide a way to achieve hand antisepsis
• Effective
• Quick
• Convenient
• Portable
• Usually available in small bottles
• Ready when you are!

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Alcohol Gel Waterless Hand Antiseptics

• BUT
• A complement for regular soap and water, NOT a
  replacement
• Not recommended when hands are soiled with dirt
  and/or organic material

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Questions?
?
?
?
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Good Luck and Good Handwashing!
Effective Handwashing
WR-10.ppt 29