Effective Handwashing

1. Effective Handwashing Presented By: KimCare™ Skin Care Products

2. 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

3. 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

4. ? ? ? 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

7. Definitions Source: APIC Guideline for Handwashing and Hand Antisepsis in Health Care Settings

8. 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

9. Hand Antisepsis: A process for the removal or destruction of transient microorganisms. Source: APIC Guideline for Handwashing and Hand Antisepsis in Health Care Settings

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

14. 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

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

16. The decision regarding when handwashing should occur depends on: WHENShould 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

17. WHENShould 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

18. WHENShould 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

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

20. HOWShould 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. Handwashing and Gloves “Soap and water handwash or an antiseptic handrub should … be used after glove removal.” “Compatibility 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

24. Alcohol Gels

25. 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

26. 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!

27. 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

28. ? ? ? Questions?

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