Handwashing

Objectives:

1. To reduce the number of microorganisms on the hands.

- minimize microbial presence on hands, promoting cleanliness and reducing the potential spread of pathogens.

2. To reduce the risk of transmission of microorganisms in clients.

- Implementing hand hygiene protocols helps mitigate the transmission of microorganisms between individuals, safeguarding the health of
clients.

3. To reduce the risk of cross contamination among clients.

- Preventing the transfer of harmful microorganisms.

4. To reduce the risk of transmission of infectious organisms to oneself (Berman & Snyder, 2012).

- Adhering to effective hand hygiene measures is crucial in diminishing the risk of self-infection with infectious organisms, maintaining personal
health and well-being.

Preparation:

1. Determine the location of the running water and soap or soap solution.

- accessibility of running water and soap or soap solution is essential to ensure proper hand hygiene can be practiced.

2. Assess the hands. Nails should be kept short and remove jewelry.

- by assessing nails and removing jewelries is minimizing potential sources of contamination.

3. Check hands for break in the skin.

- Inspecting hands for any signs of skin damage or breaks helps identify potential entry points for pathogens

4. Fold back the sleeves of the uniform or laboratory gown if it hinders the procedure.

- ensures thorough cleaning and reduces the risk of contamination.

Procedure Rationale
1. Open faucet and regulate flow of water. 1. ensure a continuous supply of clean water for
handwashing. Controlling the water flow allows for an
adequate amount of water to be used during the
handwashing process without wastage.

2. Hold hands lower than elbows and wet hands under 2. Hold hands lower than elbows and wet hands under
running water. running water:

Holding hands lower than elbows and wetting them under running
water helps prevent contamination of the arms and clothing.
By positioning the hands lower than the elbows, any potential
pathogens or debris on the arms will be washed away from the
hands and not reintroduced to the hands during the washing
process.

3. Apply enough soap to cover all hand surfaces. 3. Soap has the ability to trap and remove microorganisms
from the skin. Sufficient soap ensures that all areas of the
hands, are thoroughly cleaned.

4. Rub hands palm to palm. 4. Rub hands palm to palm:

Handwashing

Rubbing hands palm to palm creates friction, which helps to loosen

dirt, oils, and microorganisms from the skin surface.
It is an effective method for spreading soap and creating a lather
that can penetrate the skin's crevices and remove potential
contaminants.

5. Then, right palm over left dorsum in an 5. Then, right palm over left dorsum in an interlaced fingers
interlaced fingers and vice versa. and vice versa:

This hand rubbing technique helps to clean the backs of the hands
and the spaces between the fingers.

These areas are often neglected and can harbor microorganism so

by interlacing the fingers and rubbing them together, soap and
friction will reach these areas

5. Palm to palm with fingers interlaced. 6. Palm to palm with fingers interlaced:

Continuing to interlace the fingers, rubbing the palms together

ensures that the soap and friction are distributed evenly across the
entire surface of the hands.
It helps to remove dirt, pathogens, and contaminants from these
critical areas.

7. Back of fingers to opposing palms with fingers

7. Back of fingers to opposing palms with fingers interlocked:
interlocked.
Rubbing the back of one hand against the opposite palm, with
fingers interlocked, allows for thorough cleaning of the backs of the
fingers.
This action helps to remove any remaining dirt, microorganisms, or
contaminants from the spaces between the fingers and the backside
of the hands.

8. Rotational rubbing of left thumb clasped by the 8. Rotational rubbing of left thumb clasped by the right
right palm and vice versa. palm and vice versa:

Rotational rubbing of the thumbs, one at a time, while clasping

them with the opposite palm helps ensure that the thumbs, which
are often neglected during handwashing, are adequately cleaned.
This action targets the thumbs' surfaces and their contact areas,
reducing the risk of potential cross-contamination.

9. Rotational rubbing, backwards and forwards with clasped

9. Rotational rubbing, backwards and forwards fingers of right hand to left palm and vice versa:
with clasped fingers of right hand to left palm and
vice versa. Rubbing the clasped fingers of one hand against the opposite palm,
in a rotational motion, helps clean the areas between the fingers,
the webbing, and the spaces around the nails. This action ensures
comprehensive hand hygiene by addressing the often overlooked
areas.

10. Then, the wrists. Left hand to right wrists and vice versa:
10. Then, the wrists. Left hand to right wrists and
vice versa. Cleaning the wrists is an important step in hand hygiene. Washing
the wrists helps remove any potential contaminants that may have
traveled down the arms. By washing both wrists thoroughly, the
entire hand and arm are included in the handwashing process.

11. Rinse hands with water. 11. Rinse hands with water:
Handwashing

Rinsing the hands with water helps remove soap residue, dirt, and
any remaining microorganisms from the skin's surface. It is
important to rinse the hands thoroughly to ensure that no soap or
contaminants are left behind.

12. Use paper towel to turn off faucet. Discard paper 12. Use a paper towel to turn off the faucet. Discard the
towel to appropriate bin. paper towel to an appropriate bin:

Using a paper towel to turn off the faucet after handwashing is

important to prevent recontamination of clean hands. Faucet
handles can harbor microorganisms, so using a barrier, such as a
paper towel, reduces the risk of picking up pathogens while closing
the faucet. Discarding the paper towel in an appropriate bin helps
maintain cleanliness and prevent the spread of contaminants.

13. Dry hands thoroughly in a patting motion with a 13. Dry hands thoroughly in a patting motion with a single-
single use paper towel. use paper towel:

Thoroughly drying hands is a crucial step in hand hygiene. Damp

hands can attract and harbor microorganisms more easily than dry
hands. Using a single-use paper towel and patting the hands dry
helps remove remaining moisture, ensuring that the hands are
completely dry before touching any surfaces or objects.

14. Discard paper towels to appropriate bin. 14. Discard paper towels to an appropriate bin:

necessary to maintain a clean and hygienic environment. prevents

the accumulation of soiled towels and minimizes the risk of
contamination or the spread of pathogens