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Unit- 3 Hand Hygiene

Hand hygiene is essential for infection prevention in healthcare, involving practices like handwashing and the use of alcohol-based hand rubs. The document outlines the importance of hand hygiene, the 'My 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene' approach, and the significance of Global Handwashing Day. It also emphasizes best practices for different settings, including surgical hand antisepsis, social hand hygiene, and educational efforts to promote awareness.

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5 views16 pages

Unit- 3 Hand Hygiene

Hand hygiene is essential for infection prevention in healthcare, involving practices like handwashing and the use of alcohol-based hand rubs. The document outlines the importance of hand hygiene, the 'My 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene' approach, and the significance of Global Handwashing Day. It also emphasizes best practices for different settings, including surgical hand antisepsis, social hand hygiene, and educational efforts to promote awareness.

Uploaded by

bablu62524347
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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UNIT- 3 HAND HYGIENE

MASTERING HAND HYGIENE: EXPLORING


TYPES AND BEST PRACTICES

Mrs. Fathima S
Asst Professor
TJCN
INTRODUCTION

Hand hygiene is a fundamental practice in infection


prevention, crucial for healthcare professionals to minimize the
spread of pathogens. Understanding the different types of
hand hygiene and their appropriate use is essential for
maintaining a safe healthcare environment.
HAND HYGIENE

A general term referring to any action of hand cleansing.


Handrubbing with an alcohol-based handrub or handwashing
with soap and water aimed at reducing or inhibiting the growth
of micro-organisms on hands.
Hands need to be washed with soap and water when they are
visibly dirty or soiled with blood or other body fluids, when
exposure to potential spore-forming organisms is strongly
suspected or proven, or after using the lavatory
GLOBAL HANDWASHING DAY

WHO collaborates with other organizations to


support Global Handwashing Day on October
15th. This initiative promotes handwashing
with soap as a simple yet effective way to
prevent the spread of diseases
MY 5 MOMENTS FOR HAND HYGIENE

● WHO emphasizes the "My 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene"


approach, outlining specific situations in health care where hand
hygiene is crucial.
● WHO designates May 5th as World Hand Hygiene Day, an
annual event to highlight the importance of hand hygiene. This
day serves as a platform to engage healthcare professionals,
policymakers, and the public in promoting and sustaining hand
hygiene practices
WHY IS HAND WASHING IMPORTANT?
• Prevents the spread of infections: Germs can spread from
person to person, or from surfaces to people.
• Prevents food poisoning: Germs from unwashed hands can
get into food and drinks.
• Prevents respiratory infections: Germs from unwashed
hands can cause colds, flu, and COVID-19.
• Prevents gastrointestinal infections: Germs from
unwashed hands can cause salmonellosis and diarrhea.
• Prevents infections in healthcare settings: Hand washing
is especially important in hospitals to prevent the spread of
illness to patients.
ALCOHOL-BASED (HAND) RUB
An alcohol-containing preparation (liquid, gel or foam) designed for application to
the hands to inactivate microorganisms and/or temporarily suppress their growth.
Such preparations may contain one or more types of alcohol, other active
ingredients with excipients, and humectants.
An alcohol hand rub, also known as hand sanitizer, is used to quickly kill germs on
your hands by applying a liquid containing a high percentage of alcohol, primarily
when soap and water are not readily available, effectively reducing the number of
microbes present on your skin and preventing the spread of disease; it is
considered a convenient way to disinfect your hands without needing to wash with
water.
Alcohol solutions containing 60-80% alcohol are most effective. It has been well
established that alcohols effectively reduce the bacterial counts on hands better
than soap and water. Alcohol-based hand rubs are more effective against most
bacteria and many viruses than either medicated or non-medicated soaps.
ALCOHOL-BASED HAND RUB (ABHR):
● To rapidly reduce the number of microorganisms on the
hands when soap and water are not readily available.
When to Perform:
● Before and after direct patient contact.
● When hands are not visibly soiled. ● In situations requiring
quick and convenient hand hygiene. Best Practices: ● Apply a
palmful of ABHR, ensuring full coverage of all hand surfaces,
and rub hands together until dry
CHOOSING BETWEEN HANDWASHING
AND ABHR
Visible Soil: If hands are visibly soiled, handwashing with
soap and water is the preferred method to ensure
thorough cleansing.
Convenience and Accessibility: In situations where soap
and water are not readily available, ABHR provides a
convenient and effective alternative.
Patient Care: Prioritize handwashing before and after
direct patient contact, especially when dealing with
patients with compromised immune systems.
SURGICAL HAND ANTISEPSIS

Surgical hand antisepsis is the process of cleansing hands with


an antiseptic solution before performing surgery. It is important
to prevent surgical site infections (SSIs).
•Aqueous scrubs: Water-based solutions that contain
antiseptic ingredients like chlorhexidine gluconate or povidone
iodine
•Alcohol rubs: Solutions that contain alcohol and other active
ingredients
SOCIAL HAND HYGIENE
Purpose:
● To promote hand hygiene in non-clinical settings to prevent
the spread of infections in the community.
When to Perform:
● Before eating. ● After using the restroom.
Best Practices:
● Encourage the use of hand sanitizers or handwashing in
social settings to reduce the risk of infectious transmission
RESIDENT/PATIENT HAND HYGIENE

To promote hand hygiene among residents or patients to


reduce the risk of infections.
When to Perform: ● Before meals. ● After using the restroom.
Best Practices: Provide access to hand sanitizers or assist
residents/patients with handwashing.
NAIL HYGIENE

Purpose:
● To prevent the accumulation of microorganisms under
fingernails, reducing the risk of transmission.
Best Practices: ● Keep nails short, clean, and free from
artificial nails or extensions that may harbor pathogens.
EDUCATIONAL HAND HYGIENE

Purpose:
● To educate healthcare professionals, patients, and the
community on proper hand hygiene practices.
Best Practices:
● Conduct regular training sessions, distribute educational
materials, and use signage to promote awareness

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