Download What is hand hygiene?

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Covenant Health
Infection Prevention
and Control
Quick Reference Booklet
Hand Hygiene
Nov 2016
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What is hand hygiene?
Hand hygiene refers to the act of cleaning your hands either with soap and water or alcohol- based hand
rub (ABHR).
Performing hand hygiene correctly will either remove or kill most microorganisms (germs) that are present
on the skin.
With fewer germs present on the skin, the risk of spreading those germs to other people or objects is
decreased.
Hand Hygiene is the easiest and most effective way to prevent the spread of infection.
How is Hand Hygiene Performed?
Hand Hygiene can be performed by using soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub.
- Use soap and water when hands are visibly soiled and after caring for patients with diarrheal illness
- Use alcohol-based hand rub when hands are not visibly soiled
Use soap and water when hands are visibly dirty and after caring for patients/residents with diarrheal
illness:
-
Wet hands and apply liquid soap
Vigorously wash all surfaces of hands (front and back, between fingers and tips of fingers) for at least
20 seconds
Rinse hands with warm water
Dry with paper towel and use paper towel to turn off taps
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Use alcohol based hand rub when hands are not visibly dirty:
- Dispense 1-2 pumps of rub into palm of hand
- Cover all surfaces of hands with rub
- Rub hands together between fingers, around nails and on back of hands for 20 seconds
- Let hands air dry; no towel required
Hand Hygiene and areas that can be missed
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Covenant Health Hand Hygiene Policy
This policy applies to all Covenant Health facilities, staff, physicians, volunteers, students and to any other
persons acting on behalf of Covenant Health.
Key Points:
- Hand hygiene is everyone’s responsibility
- Alcohol based hand rub is the preferred method of hand hygiene
- Gloves do not replace the need for hand hygiene
- Use only hospital-approved hand hygiene products including hand lotion
- No artificial nails, gel nails, nail polish or long fingernails permitted
- No rings other than a simple wedding band when working within the patient care environment,
medical device reprocessing or the laboratory
- For more information see the Hand Hygiene Policy on Compassionnet.ca
Measuring Hand Hygiene Compliance Rates
Covenant Health is committed to improving hand hygiene compliance.
Key Points:
- Twice yearly audits in Spring and Fall
- All healthcare staff, including medical staff and volunteers are audited
- Staff are measured on whether they take or miss key opportunities for performing hand hygiene
- Based on the 4 Moments for Hand Hygiene:
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Hand Hygiene Accountability
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We need to feel comfortable to speak up and remind others when they have missed opportunities
to perform hand hygiene. (It is also important to encourage others for doing a good job as well.)
Feedback must be timely in order to be useful.
The more that we provide feedback and act as a positive role model, the more this will help to
create a culture of acceptance within our areas.
Covenant Health is committed to ethical integrity “by promoting ethical behavior that supports
those we serve and is in alignment with the organization's values. The commitment includes
treating people with respect, keeping those we serve at the centre of all we do and promoting a
culture of continuous quality improvement.” References: COV Building a Just Culture Policy (III-35)
and COV Disclosure of Adverse Events, Close Calls & Hazards Policy (III-40), COV Commitment to
Ethical Integrity.
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Five Rights of Hand Hygiene
Patient/Resident Hand Hygiene
Please encourage all patients/residents to perform hand hygiene according to the Covenant Health
4 Moments for Patient/Resident Hand Hygiene:
1) Before and after touching wounds and devices
2) Before eating, drinking, taking medications and/or touching the face
3) After using the washroom
4) When entering or leaving the patient/resident room or interacting with visitors
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Infection Prevention and Control Resources
All resources can be found on CompassionNet.ca
Go to Compassionnet.ca  Care & Safety Infection Control
http://www.compassionnet.ca/Page172.aspx
Resources include (but are not limited to):
-Hand Hygiene Policy
-Hand Hygiene information including compliance rates
-Hand hygiene procedure videos
-4 Moments for Hand Hygiene Posters
Test Your Knowledge!
1.
Hand hygiene is the easiest most effective way to prevent the spread of infection. T___ F____
2.
Alcohol-based hand rub must be used after caring for patients with diarrhea. T______F_____
3.
You do not need to perform hand hygiene after glove removal. T______F_______
4.
Artificial nails, gel nails, nail polish and long fingernails are not permitted according the Covenant
Health Hand Hygiene Policy.
T_______ F_____
5.
The thumbs are most frequently missed areas after performing hand hygiene. T________F_______
6.
Only nursing staff are eligible for being audited during a hand hygiene compliance audit. T_______
F___________
Answers:
1.
True
2.
False
3.
False
4.
True
5.
True
6.
False
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