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Essential Guide to Hand Hygiene

Apr 13, 2025

Hand Hygiene Using Soap and Water

Introduction

  • Importance of hand hygiene in healthcare.
  • Two methods:
    • Soap and water
    • Alcohol-based hand rub

When to Perform Hand Hygiene

  • Before and After:
    • Patient care
    • Contact with body fluids or open wounds
    • Touching patient surroundings (e.g. bedside table, bed handrails)
    • Eating
    • Using the bathroom

Soap and Water vs. Alcohol-Based Hand Rub

  • Soap and Water:
    • Hands are visibly dirty
    • Exposure to Clostridium difficile (C-diff)
    • During facility outbreaks or high endemic rates
    • Exposure to infectious diarrhea or norovirus outbreaks
    • Suspected/proven exposure to Bacillus anthracis (Anthrax)
    • Before eating
    • After using the restroom

Supplies Needed

  • Soap
  • Paper towels
  • Running water (faucets vary: automatic, pedal, manual handles)

Jewelry Considerations

  • Avoid wearing jewelry during patient care due to germ harboring.
  • Simple wedding bands may be allowed; clean them during hand hygiene.

Hand Washing Procedure

  1. Turn on Water:

    • Use warm water to avoid skin dryness and cracking.
    • Avoid contact of scrubs with sink.
  2. Wet Hands and Wrists:

    • Keep hands lower than elbows.
  3. Apply Soap:

    • Use about 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) of soap.
  4. Lather and Scrub:

    • Use circular motions to scrub for 20 seconds.
    • Focus on all hand areas, especially small crevices:
      • Palms
      • Backs of hands
      • Thumbs and individual fingers
      • Around fingernails and knuckles
      • Between fingers
      • Wrists and up to one inch above wrists
  5. Rinse Soap Off:

    • Let water flow from wrists down to fingertips.
  6. Dry Hands:

    • Pat dry with paper towel.
    • Discard towel.
  7. Turn Off Faucet:

    • Use dry paper towel to avoid re-contamination.
    • Discard paper towel.

Conclusion

  • Proper hand hygiene prevents the spread of infection.
  • Use of wet paper towel to turn off faucet can re-contaminate hands.
  • Follow guidelines for effective and safe hand washing.

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