Hand Hygiene
Hand decontamination is the use of hand wash or alcohol rub that reduces the number of bacteria on the hands. Hand decontamination is also referred to as ‘hand hygiene’. Hand Hygiene is an integral part of nursing care, as effectively decontaminating hands significantly reduces the risk of pathogens being transferred from one surface to another, or from person to person (NICE, 2014). This means, that through practicing good hand hygiene, nurses can actively reduce the incidences of preventable healthcare associated infections, therefore improving the health and mortality of their patients.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE, 2012) guidelines state that misconceptions about hand hygiene in relation to
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This information makes it clear that the reason that hand hygiene is being consistently advertised as highly important for health workers, visitors, patients and the general public is because we are still not taking steps to ensure that avoidable infections and diseases are in fact avoided.
As health advocates, nurses have a responsibility to communicate the importance of hand hygiene to their patients, through informing and enabling the practice of hand sanitising, along with ensuring patients are able to continue to have their personal hygiene needs met while in
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It is estimated that the cost of caring for people who contract a healthcare related infection is over 1 billion pounds a year (National Audit Office, 2009), which puts the emphasis on infection prevention and control into perspective. Hand hygiene has been highlighted as a key factor in reducing these incidences of infection and therefore reducing the costs to the NHS. Health care related infections can cause a range of symptoms from mild discomfort to serious, debilitating damage and even death. By reducing costs of avoidable infection, the money saved can be used in other areas of the NHS to improve the service for users and therefore improve the quality of life for many who are
Health tips. Hand hygiene. (2009). Mayo Clinic Health Letter (English Ed.), 27(12), 3. Retrieved from
Four body fluids that would be considered biohazardous waste are blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and cerebral spinal fluid.
“The CDC is the primary developer of national infection control and prevention guidelines, often in collaboration with its Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee, which is responsible for research and dissemination of the latest information for preventing disease transmission” (Griffis, 2013, p. 175). Infection control will continue to be a topic of discussion as long as germ transmission is still happening. Among these studies is the concern the frequent nonadherence to contact precautions is a huge issue that many studies are still very concerned about (Jessee & Mion, 2013, p. 966). The writer is also concerned with the blatant disregard for hand hygiene that appears to be happening in the medical field. What about what is best for the patient. Do the people that do not use proper hand hygiene not understand how important it
Better infection control practices and hand washing techniques utilized by the general population help to reduce the incidences of easily avoidable conditions, such as impetigo caused by staphylococcal and streptococcal infections. It may be beneficial for public health departments to recommend teachers to teach students on how to properly wash hands and clean high contact fomites.
Feces, viruses, staph, Salmonella and hand-foot-mouth disease. These are just a few of the things that can be on our hands from normal daily living. With compromised immune systems, open wounds and other issues, these are very harmful. That is why it is so important to keep proper hand hygiene in mind at all times. Hospital infections affect almost two million people in the United States every year, 100,000 of whom die. Up to 70 percent of infections could be prevented if the health care workers follow recommended protocol (Michigan Health Lab, May 26, 2016). Nobody wants to know that when your food has
This literature review will analyze and critically explore four studies that have been conducted on hand hygiene compliance rates by Healthcare workers (HCWs). Firstly, it will look at compliance rates for HCWs in the intensive care units (ICU) and then explore the different factors that contribute to low hand hygiene compliance. Hospital Acquired infections (HAI) or Nosocomial Infections appear worldwide, affecting both developed and poor countries. HAIs represent a major source of morbidity and mortality, especially for patients in the ICU (Hugonnet, Perneger, & Pittet, 2002). Hand hygiene can be defined as any method that destroys or removes microorganisms on hands (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009). According to the World Health Organization (2002), a HAI can be defined as an infection occurring in a patient in a hospital or other health care facility in whom the infection was not present or incubating at the time of admission. The hands of HCWs transmit majority of the endemic infections. As
This essay critically examines the relationship between interventions and the dubious increase in hand hygiene compliance by healthcare professionals by using the framework of evidence-based practice to evaluate previous literature, identify barriers, and note mechanisms used to measure effectiveness of interventions. The systematic review, Interventions to improve hand hygiene compliance in patient care, conducted by the Cochrane Collaboration investigated innovations to improve hand hygiene compliance within patient care. The review included 2 original studies with an additional two new studies (Gould & Moralejo et al., 2010). Throughout the review, it was affirmed that while hand hygiene is an indispensable method in the prevention of hospital-acquired infections (HAI), the compliance among nurses’ is inadequate. Nurses are identified within the public as dependable and trustworthy in a time of vulnerability due to their specialised education and skills (Hughes, 2008).
Medical asepsis plays an integral role in infection control within a health care facility. It includes procedures used to decrease and prevent direct contact with blood or bodily fluids and emphasizes keeping the environment clean on a regular basis (Curchoe, Astle, & Hobbs, 2014). In order to achieve optimal health, individuals depend on practices and techniques that control and ultimately prevent the transmission of infection. These practices and techniques can help avoid the transmission of infections by creating an environment that protects both health care workers and patients from communicable diseases. Good hand hygiene has been stressed as the single most important measure to prevent cross-infection to patients in health care facilities
“Researchers in London estimate that if everyone routinely washed their hands, a million deaths a year could be prevented” (“Hygiene Fast Facts”, 2013, p. 1). Hands are the number one mode of transmission of pathogens. Hands are also vital in patient interaction, and therefore should be kept clean to protect the safety of patients and the person caring for the patient. Hand hygiene is imperative to professional nursing practice because it prevents the spread of pathogens, decreases chances of hospital-acquired infections, and promotes patient safety. There is a substantial amount of evidence that shows why hand hygiene is important in healthcare
Patient’s personal hygiene is a vital part of the nurse’s role. Young (1991) described cleanliness as a basic human right, not a luxury the need for the patient to physically cleansing and which would include skin, hair and nails.
Hand hygiene habits may vary according to the nature of patient care activities. Staff members may be apt to exhibit appropriate hand hygiene habits when they are giving care that is not urgent. The same might not be said of workers in emergency care situations. Many workers may not take the time to comply with protocol when they are engaged in critical
Hand washing is the first line of defense used to prevent or reduce the opportunity for infection. When, bacteria enters through breaks in the skin a patient chances of infection are increased. Therefore, the goal is to ensure the operating room is a pathogen-free environment. Pathogens are bacterium, virus and other microorganisms that cause illness. Doctors have discovered hand washing reduces the rate of infection in patient populations.
A number of studies have been conducted to create, measure, assess and evaluate awareness of the importance of proper hand washing in preventing outbreaks of food-borne disease and other illnesses among healthcare professionals, youth, adults and the community at large. The recommended hand washing practice was rarely followed by youth and adults yet they believe that hand washing is very important as documented by many studies 2.
Overall health is important to everyone. Overall health includes taking care of teeth, skin, nails, hair, eyes and ears. Choosing the right products, and eating the right foods to take care of the body are also important. Growing up, children need to learn the importance of taking care of themselves so that they are able to remain healthy as adults. Many people take health so seriously that they even have careers in health.
Correct handwashing procedure should be detailed via signage, such as that below, at all handwashing facilities to be used by staff. Staff are to rolemodel correct handwashing procedures to children and are to assist children to do this when necessary. All cuts, wounds or abrasions are to be covered with a waterproof blue bandaid. Each member of staff should be personally responsible for using every practical precaution in an effect to minimise the risk of contamination or infection for themselves, the children, other staff and families.