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Literature review on handwashing
The importance of handwashing
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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.
As a result had washing has become the medical community’s first defense in the prevention of infections. In order for handwashing to be effective, the antiseptic solution should remain on the hands for the prescribed time recommended by the manufacturer. For that reason, there are two standards for a hand scrub the five and three-minute surgical scrub. Surgical scrubs are not done only when a patient is about to have surgery; scrubs are routinely done before the setup of minor procedures, prior to inserting certain intravenous lines. Any time a pathogen-free environment is required by a technician, nurse or doctor. That sounds easy, pretty basic watching a clock for three to five minutes as you scrub away. Not so fast, a surgical scrub is
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In order for handwashing to be effective, the antiseptic solution should remain on the hands for the prescribed time recommended by the manufacturer. For that reason, there are two standards for a hand scrub the five and three-minute surgical scrub. Surgical scrubs are not done only when a patient is about to have surgery; scrubs are routinely done before the setup of minor procedures, prior to inserting certain intravenous lines. Any time a pathogen-free environment is required by a technician, nurse or doctor. That sounds easy, pretty basic watching a clock for three to five minutes as you scrub away. Not so fast, a surgical scrub is a controlled, step by step method to wash your
Washing your hands properly with soap is one of the most important things you can do to reduce the number of germs, or infections you can spread. The issue that needs to be addressed, is how can we promote good hand washing habits efficiently, to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. For this reason, Kohler will be introducing the “Hygieia” in Q3 of 2016. The Hygieia is a hands free motion detecting sink that dispenses water, and soap simultaneously.
Parents and teachers encourage children to wash their hands with soap and water after using the bathroom, touching dirty objects, and sometimes before eating. Next to every tissue box there will most likely be a bottle of hand sanitizer that kills 99.9% of germs. Both hand soap and hand sanitizer kill off the germs and bacteria that can cause infections and diseases. Which one works best? The purpose of this experiment is to show which is more effective, hand soap or hand sanitizer (Bjornsson). To prove this, Bjornsson writes up a lab using the growth of bread mold to help identify the results of both products (Bjornsson). I believe that hand soap works better than hand sanitizers because doctors remind us that we should wash our hands especially during flu season to keep us healthy. Therefore, the hypothesis for this lab is that the hand soap will be the better alternative and will slow down the growth of bread mold more than the hand sanitizer in this experiment.
The medical assisting extern needed to wash her hands before preparing the room for a patient to prevent cross contamination.
There are several benefits to double-gloving that have been supported by recent studies [1-4]. By double-gloving, it has been shown that the transfer of virus to healthcare workers’ hands is significantly decreased, as compared to single gloving [1]. Perhaps the incidence of nosocomial infections could be reduced if double-gloving were a requirement in healthcare settings. In the operating room (OR), double-gloving has been shown to provide superior protection against potential exposure to blood-borne pathogens [2]. Breaking the barrier between an OR nurses’ hands and the external environment was shown to occur in 8.9% of cases in one study in which single-gloving was practiced during surgical procedures [2]. Remarkably, in the same study, it was shown that when double-gloving was practiced, there was not a single case of both layers of gloves being perforated [2]. From the evidence provided in that study, one could assume that when double-gloving is practiced, it is virtually impossible for the hands of a healthcare worker to become exposed to the external environment during a sur...
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.
That is so simple in order to prevent any miscalculation. This is totally unacceptable when everyone expects the medical doctors, nurses, and RNA’s to be experts in their field of practice. The fact that physicians or other health care providers are not washing their hands as often to prevent infection is pure laziness. You learn that hand hygiene is important even when you are a young child and if you have went to medical or nursing school your instructors definitely highlight hand hygiene because of this very reason. Hand washing is fundamental and should not be taken for granted when involving a patient’s care. If the issue of overcrowding appears then that as an issue of the person who schedules procedures and appointments and that they should check their records for appointment before scheduling anyone for services. Now if it’s the case of emergency rooms or admitting some for an illness on spot and there are not available beds or operating rooms I’m sorry but I feel that the doctor should refer the patient to another hospital. I’m sure the physician or facility doesn’t want to give up that money but the main goal is to ensure that the patient gets the care that he or she needs and will gain health and if the facility they
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
Are there differences in the frequency of hand washing based on the worker’s gender, profession, and pre and post patient contact?
“Failure to attend to hand hygiene has serious consequences: it has a negative effect on patient safety and the quality of patients’ lives, as well as on their confidence in healthcare delivery. However, the prevalence of hand hygiene omission is still high” (Canadian Disease Control, 2016 p 1). Washing hands before and after patient contact seems like a simple solution to prevent the spread of bacteria between patients. But it is not as simple as it seems.According to new CDC data, “approximately one in 25 patients acquires a health care-associated infection during their hospital care, adding up to about 722,000 infections a year. Of these, 75,000 patients die from their infections ( CDC, 2016 p 1).” Leaving a finacial burden on Canada’s health care
The systematic review; Interventions to improve hand hygiene compliance in patient care, conducted by the Cochrane Collaboration investigated inventions 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 among 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). Thus, it is imperative that evidence based practice is cond...
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.
(2014) shed light on two key components for infection control, which includes protecting patients from acquiring infections and protecting health care workers from becoming infected (Curchoe et al., 2014). The techniques that are used to protect patients also provide protection for nurses and other health care workers alike. In order to prevent the spread of infections, it is important for health care workers to be meticulous and attentive when providing care to already vulnerable patients (Curchoe et al., 2014). If a health care worker is aware they may contaminate the surroundings of a patient, they must properly clean, disinfect, and sterilize any contaminated objects in order to reduce or eliminate microorganisms (Curchoe et al., 2014). It is also ideal to change gloves after contact with contaminated secretions and before leaving a patient’s room (Curchoe, 2014). Research suggests that due to standard precaution, gloves must be worn as a single-use item for each invasive procedure, contact with sterile sites, and non-intact skin or mucous membranes (Curchoe et al., 2014). Hence, it is critical that health care workers change gloves during any activity that has been assessed as carrying a risk of exposure to body substances, secretions, excretions, and blood (Curchoe et al.,
“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
When scrubbing your hands, start by rubbing the palm of one hand at the back of the other and continue to rub along the fingers. Repeat the entire process with the other hand. Then, rub in between each of your fingers on both hands and round the thumb. Ideally, you should scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds or until you finish humming the Happy Birthday song. Start humming the moment you start scrubbing.
Due to the fact that during a surgery you will be using your hands you must be very careful even if you are wearing safety equipment. Protective wear can help tremendously by eliminating any easy route of transmission of any viruses, or diseases etc. Through medical school it will be required that surgeons wear gear that will protect them. Always wear protective gear no matter how little the operation could be, surgeons will always be exposed to some kinds of bacteria which can be foreign to your own. According to Paul A. Ruggieri M.D.’s novel, “I love being a surgeon. I love being able to make a clear, tangible difference in the quality of a person’s life. Sometimes I even save a life. I am honored every time a patient comes to me, and I’m humbled at the trust that’s given.” Surgeons should have the same mindset as Dr. Ruggieri because making a difference in someone else 's life should be a huge priority. They should want to help someone with their problems. Surgeons leave a mark on other people’s life, and it should always be a positive one. The satisfaction knowing a surgery was performed on someone and treated their problems would feel