Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings

1. Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings

2. Hospital Acquired Infections • 7-10% of patients acquire an infection • 7,000 death per year • The federal government spend > $950 million annually Source:Australian Council for Quality and Safety in Healthcare July 2003

3. Paediatric Nosocomial Infections • MORE Viral respiratory infections • MORE Gastrointestinal infections • MORE BACTEREMIAS • All children are exposed to maternal infections/siblings • HIGH RISK PATIENT GROUPS: • Newborns and premature infants • Children with congenital abnormalities

4. Obstetric Nosocomial Infections • Minimal invasive diagnostic procedures • Surgery not prolonged • Short hospital stay • Intact host defenses • Not subject to as many hospital pathogens • Not exposed to prolonged antibiotic courses

5. Obstetric Nosocomial Infections- Risks Increase With: • Urinary catheterisation • Intravenous therapy • Intra-uterine and foetal monitoring • PV examinations

6. “Hand Hygiene is the SINGLE most important practice to preventing nosocomial infections” Rotter ML 1997

7. Benefits of Hand Hygiene • Reduced number of deaths • Reduced number of infections: • Decreased antibiotic usage • Decreased patient length of stay • Decreased use of resources

8. Compliance with hand hygiene? Table 2. Distribution of factors associated with non-compliance with hand hygiene Table 1. Compliance with hand hygiene in different hospital settings before intervention Source: Pittet D, Boyce JM LANCET Infect Dis 2001

9. An overview • Definitions • Guidelines for hand hygiene • Soap versus Alcohol solution • Healthy Hands

10. Definition of Terms • Hand Hygienea general term that applies to either handwashing, antiseptic handwash, antiseptic hand rub or surgical hand antisepsis. • Handwashingwashing hands with plain ( ie. non-antimicrobial) soap and water. • Decontaminationto reduce bacterial counts on the hands by performing antiseptic hand rub or antiseptic handwash. Guide for Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings: MMWR 2002; vol.51, no. RR-16

11. When To Perform Hand Hygiene? • “High Risk” for Contamination Activities • “Low Risk” for Contamination Activities

12. “High Risk” for Contamination • Immediately before and after patient contact • Immediately before and after a procedure

13. “High Risk” for Contamination • Before and after touching any devices/equipment directly connected to the patient e.g. • Indwelling catheter • External Ventricular Drains • Redivacs • Ventilation Equipment

14. “High Risk” for Contamination • Moving from contaminated to a clean body site • After contact with body fluids

15. “Low Risk” for Contamination • After contact with equipmente.g.patients charts, monitors • After removing gloves • After contact with own nose/mouth/hair

16. A quick and easy solution An alcohol gel!

17. Alcohol at EVERY bed helps increase compliance Biscoff WE et al 1998: Abstract K132

18. Place gel/rinse at each: • Bed / cot • Trolley • Entrance to room

19. Alcohol is more effective in reducing the number of bacteria Mean change (log10 CFU) Pittet D, Boyce JM. Lancet Infect Dis 2001

20. Alcohol has persistent activity • Reduction in resident flora Rotter ML. Chapter 87 in Mayhall CG 1999

21. A quick and easy solution :An alcohol gel! • Less drying than soap and water

22. When can you use an alcohol-based hand gel? • In all clinical situations EXCEPT: • When your hands are visibly soiled • When a surgical scrub is required

23. How to use an alcohol hand gel? • Ensure that hands have no visible contamination • Apply product to palm of one hand and rub hands together covering all surfaces and fingers • Allow to air dry • The process takes about 15 seconds

24. A few tips when using the gel… • Continue rubbing hands together until alcohol is dry (should take 10-15 sec). • After using an alcohol based product, you will feel a “build up” on your hands. To remove this, wash your hands with soap and water as often as necessary.

25. When should you handwash? • when hands are visibly contaminated with blood/body fluids • to remove “build-up” from the alcohol gel/rinse • before eating • after using the restroom

26. How to wash your hands? 1 2 Apply solution and scrub for at least 15 seconds Wet your hands

27. How to wash your hands? 3 4 Rinse your hands Scrub back of hands, wrists, between fingers and under fingernails

28. How to wash your hands? 5 6 Dry with paper towel Turn off water lever using your elbows

29. Visitors and Relatives • Instruct them to EITHER wash their hands or apply the gel: • Before holding the baby/child • Before feeding the baby/child • After nappy change

30. Summary of Recommendations • Hands visibly soiled Soap and water or antimicrobial soap • Hands not soiled Alcohol hand rub for all routine hand hygiene

31. Healthy Hands: • Use warm water, not hot • Wet hands before applying soap • Rinse hands well and pat dry • Moisturise 3-4 times daily

32. Healthy Hands: • Select a moisturiser compatible with Chlorhexidine gluconate • Nails should be kept short (< ¼ inch) • Artificial nails should not be worn in high risk areas e.g. ICU, NICU

33. Any Questions? For more information visit www.washup.org.au