Hand Hygiene with Soap and Water
Introduction
- Two ways to perform hand hygiene:
- Soap and water
- Alcohol-based hand rub
- Importance of hand hygiene:
- Before and after patient care
- After contact with bodily fluids or open wounds
- After touching objects near patients (e.g., bedside tables, bed railings)
- After removing gloves
- Before eating and after using the bathroom
When to Use Soap and Water
- Hands are visibly dirty
- After exposure to Clostridium difficile (C-diff)
- During facility outbreaks or high endemic rates
- Exposure to patients with infectious diarrhea
- During norovirus outbreaks
- Suspected or proven exposure to Bacillus anthracis (anthrax)
- Before eating and after using a restroom
Supplies Needed
- Soap
- Paper towels
- Running water
Preparation
- Remove jewelry to prevent germ harboring
- Keep wedding band on for hand hygiene
- Ensure water is warm, not hot, to prevent skin damage
Hand Washing Steps
-
Turn on Water
- Use handle, pedal, or automatic faucet
- Avoid letting scrubs touch sink interior
-
Wet Hands and Wrists
- Keep hands lower than elbows to prevent germs traveling up arms
-
Apply Soap
- Use 1 teaspoon (5mL) of soap
- Lather hands and wrists
-
Scrub Hands
- Use circular motions for 20 seconds
- Areas to focus on:
- Palms
- Back of hands
- Thumbs
- Each finger and around fingernails
- Knuckles
- In between fingers
- Underneath fingernails
- Wrists and one inch above
-
Rinse Hands
- Rinse from wrists down to fingertips
- Water should flow downward
-
Dry Hands
- Pat hands dry with a paper towel
- Discard wet paper towel
-
Turn Off Faucet
- Use a dry paper towel to turn off faucet
- Discard paper towel to avoid contamination
Conclusion
- Proper technique is crucial for effective hand hygiene
- Avoid recontaminating hands
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