Hand Hygiene Using Soap and Water

Methods of Hand Hygiene

• Two Main Methods:
  • Soap and Water
  • Alcohol-Based Hand Rub

When to Perform Hand Hygiene

• Before and after patient care
• After contact with body fluids or open wounds
• After touching objects near patients (e.g., bedside table, bed railing)
• After removing gloves
• Before eating and after using the bathroom

When to Use Soap and Water

• Hands are visibly dirty
• Known or suspected exposure to Clostridium difficile (C-diff)
• During facility outbreaks or high endemic rates
• Known or suspected exposure to infectious diarrhea
• During norovirus outbreaks
• Suspected or proven exposure to Bacillus anthracis (anthrax)
• Before eating and after using the restroom

Demonstration of Hand Hygiene Using Soap and Water

Supplies Needed

• Soap
• Paper towels
• Running water

Preparation

• Faucet Types: Automatic, pedal-operated, or handle-operated
• Jewelry: Avoid wearing jewelry; if wearing a wedding band, keep it on during hand hygiene to clean it.

Steps for Hand Hygiene

1. Turn on Water:
   • Water should be warm (not too hot to prevent skin drying and cracking)
   • Avoid contact between scrubs and sink to prevent contamination
2. Wet Hands and Wrists:
   • Keep hands lower than elbows
3. Apply Soap:
   • Use about 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of soap, or as dispensed by automated dispenser
4. Lather and Scrub Hands:
   • Use circular motions for 20 seconds
   • Scrub all areas: palms, backs, thumbs, fingers, fingernails, knuckles, in between fingers, and wrists
5. Rinse:
   • Rinse soap off from wrists to fingertips
6. Dry Hands:
   • Pat hands dry with paper towel
   • Discard wet paper towel
7. Turn Off Faucet:
   • Use dry paper towel to avoid re-contamination
   • Discard paper towel used to turn off faucet

Additional Tips

• Do not use wet paper towel to turn off faucet to prevent germ transfer
• Avoid scrubbing hands with paper towel to protect skin layer

Conclusion

• Proper hand hygiene using soap and water is crucial in healthcare settings to prevent the spread of infections.

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