HandwashingHandwashing

STANDARD HANDWASHING STANDARD HANDWASHING PROCEDUREPROCEDURE

RationaleRationale

An understanding of safety as it relates to An understanding of safety as it relates to community and self is necessary for the community and self is necessary for the delivery of quality health care.delivery of quality health care.

ObjectivesObjectives

Upon completion of this lesson, the student will Upon completion of this lesson, the student will be able to:be able to:

Demonstrate proper hand washing procedure Demonstrate proper hand washing procedure used in the health care settings;used in the health care settings;

Demonstrate an understanding when hand Demonstrate an understanding when hand sanitizer maybe used in place of performing sanitizer maybe used in place of performing standard hand washing procedure;standard hand washing procedure;

Demonstrate proper technique for using hand Demonstrate proper technique for using hand sanitizer; and Evaluate a peer using skills sanitizer; and Evaluate a peer using skills check.check.

Standard Handwashing Standard Handwashing ProcedureProcedure

I. According to OSHA standards regarding blood borne I. According to OSHA standards regarding blood borne pathogens, hand washing should be performed, at a pathogens, hand washing should be performed, at a minimum:minimum:

A. Before and after every patient contactA. Before and after every patient contact B. After removing gloves and other protective wearB. After removing gloves and other protective wear C. After handling blood or other body fluidsC. After handling blood or other body fluids D. When visibly contaminated with blood or tissuesD. When visibly contaminated with blood or tissues E. Before leaving the patient areaE. Before leaving the patient area F. Before and after eating, applying makeup, using the F. Before and after eating, applying makeup, using the

bathroom, handling contact lenses, handling equipmentbathroom, handling contact lenses, handling equipment

Standard Handwashing Standard Handwashing ProcedureProcedure

II. Importance of handwashing to reduce II. Importance of handwashing to reduce nosocomialnosocomial infections infections

A. Required in any health care A. Required in any health care profession.profession.

1. Reduces spread of disease from 1. Reduces spread of disease from patient to patientpatient to patient

2. Reduces spread of disease from 2. Reduces spread of disease from patient to health care professionalpatient to health care professional

II. Importance of II. Importance of handwashing to reduce handwashing to reduce nosocomial infectionsnosocomial infections

3. Reduces spread of disease from 3. Reduces spread of disease from health care professional to patienthealth care professional to patient

4. Reduces spread of disease from 4. Reduces spread of disease from health care professional to other health health care professional to other health care professionalscare professionals

5. Reduce spread of disease to visitors in 5. Reduce spread of disease to visitors in the health care facilitythe health care facility

III. Proper handwashing techniques III. Proper handwashing techniques includeinclude

A. Soap aids in the removal of pathogens.A. Soap aids in the removal of pathogens. B. Warm waterB. Warm water C. FrictionC. Friction D. All surfaces of the hands must be D. All surfaces of the hands must be

cleaned – palms, backs, between the cleaned – palms, backs, between the fingers.fingers.

E. Nails must be cleaned.E. Nails must be cleaned.

Proper handwashing techniques includeProper handwashing techniques include

F. Fingertips pointed downward – F. Fingertips pointed downward – prevents water from getting on forearms prevents water from getting on forearms and then running back down onto the and then running back down onto the hands and re-contaminating them.hands and re-contaminating them.

G. Dry paper towels are used to turn G. Dry paper towels are used to turn faucet on and off – prevents faucet on and off – prevents contamination of hands from organisms contamination of hands from organisms on the faucet.on the faucet.

Indication for hand Indication for hand hygienehygiene

A. When hands are visibly dirty, A. When hands are visibly dirty, contaminated, or soiled, wash with non-contaminated, or soiled, wash with non-antimicrobial or antimicrobial soap and antimicrobial or antimicrobial soap and water.water.

B. If hands are not visibly soiled, use an B. If hands are not visibly soiled, use an alcohol-based hand rub for routinely alcohol-based hand rub for routinely decontaminating hands.decontaminating hands.

Cleaning Hands with Waterless Hand Cleaning Hands with Waterless Hand Sanitizer (also known as hand rubs)Sanitizer (also known as hand rubs)

I. Hand sanitizers work to kill microbes I. Hand sanitizers work to kill microbes chemicallychemically

II. Waterless hand sanitizer provides II. Waterless hand sanitizer provides several advantages over hand washing several advantages over hand washing with soap and water. However, they are with soap and water. However, they are not effective if organic matter (dirt, food, not effective if organic matter (dirt, food, or other material) is visible on hands.or other material) is visible on hands.

Cleaning Hands with Waterless Hand Cleaning Hands with Waterless Hand Sanitizer (also known as hand rubs)Sanitizer (also known as hand rubs)

III. Benefits of waterless hand sanitizer:III. Benefits of waterless hand sanitizer: A. Require less time than hand washingA. Require less time than hand washing B. Act quickly to inhibit microorganisms on handsB. Act quickly to inhibit microorganisms on hands C. Are more accessible than sinksC. Are more accessible than sinks D. Reduce bacterial counts on handsD. Reduce bacterial counts on hands E. Do not promote antimicrobial resistanceE. Do not promote antimicrobial resistance F. Are less irritating to skin than soap and waterF. Are less irritating to skin than soap and water G. Some can even improve condition of skinG. Some can even improve condition of skin

Cleaning Hands with Waterless Hand Cleaning Hands with Waterless Hand Sanitizer (also known as hand rubs)Sanitizer (also known as hand rubs)

IV. Both components, waterless hand IV. Both components, waterless hand sanitizer and friction, should be usedsanitizer and friction, should be used

increase effectiveness. Four steps:increase effectiveness. Four steps: A. Make sure all organic matter is A. Make sure all organic matter is

removed from hands. All visible organic removed from hands. All visible organic matter (for example: dirt) must be matter (for example: dirt) must be removed from hands prior to applying removed from hands prior to applying waterless hand sanitizer.waterless hand sanitizer.

Cleaning Hands with Waterless Hand Cleaning Hands with Waterless Hand Sanitizer (also known as hand rubs)Sanitizer (also known as hand rubs)

B. Apply a dime sized amount of B. Apply a dime sized amount of waterless hand sanitizer to the palm of waterless hand sanitizer to the palm of one hand or use a waterless hand one hand or use a waterless hand sanitizer wipe.sanitizer wipe.

C. Rub hands together covering all C. Rub hands together covering all surfaces of hands and fingers.surfaces of hands and fingers.

D. Rub until waterless hand sanitizer is D. Rub until waterless hand sanitizer is absorbed.absorbed.