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Proper Handwashing
Clinical Rotation
CDC
Centers for Disease Control
Since person-to-person spread can play a
significant role in the spread of some enteric
pathogens, hand hygiene is a critical element
of any outbreak prevention and control
strategy.
CDC has created hand washing guidelines for the
public, particularly those in the service
industries.
Steps to proper hand washing...
• Hands should be washed using soap and warm,
running water
• Hands should be rubbed vigorously during washing for
at least 20 seconds with special attention paid to the
backs of the hands, wrists, between the fingers and
under the fingernails
• Hands should be rinsed well while leaving the water
running
• With the water running, hands should be dried with a
single-use towel
• Turn off the water using a paper towel, covering
washed hands to prevent re-contamination.
Hands should be washed after the
following activities:
• After touching bare human body parts other than clean
hands and clean, exposed portions of arms
• After using the toilet
• After coughing, sneezing, using a handkerchief or
disposable tissue, using tobacco, eating or drinking
• After handling soiled equipment or utensils
• After food preparation, as often as necessary to remove
soil and contamination and to prevent crosscontamination when changing tasks
• After switching between working with raw food and
working with ready-to-eat food
• After engaging in other activities that contaminate the
hands.
THE VSP DOES NOT ENDORSE THE USE
OF HAND SANITIZERS IN LIEU OF
HANDWASHING WITH SOAP AND
WARM, RUNNING WATER. HAND
SANITIZERS CONTAINING 60-90% ETHYL
ALCOHOL OR ISOPROPANOL IN
CONCENTRATION WITH EQUIVALENT
SANITIZING STRENGTH, MAY BE USED AS
AN ADJUNCT TO PROPER
HANDWASHING.
Hands that heal or hands that
harm?
Hand washing for medical
professionals
Alcohol-based hand rub. An alcohol-containing preparation
designed for application to the hands for reducing the number of
viable microorganisms on the hands. In the United States, such
preparations usually contain 60%--95% ethanol or isopropanol.
Antimicrobial soap. Soap (i.e., detergent) containing an antiseptic
agent.
Antiseptic agent. Antimicrobial substances that are applied to the
skin to reduce the number of microbial flora. Examples include
alcohols, chlorhexidine, chlorine, hexachlorophene, iodine,
chloroxylenol (PCMX), quaternary ammonium compounds, and
triclosan.
Antiseptic handwash. Washing hands with water and soap or other
detergents containing an antiseptic agent.
Antiseptic hand rub. Applying an antiseptic hand-rub product to all
surfaces of the hands to reduce the number of microorganisms
present.
Cumulative effect. A progressive decrease in the numbers of
microorganisms recovered after repeated applications of a test
material.
Decontaminate hands. To Reduce bacterial counts on hands by
performing antiseptic hand rub or antiseptic handwash.
Detergent. Detergents (i.e., surfactants) are compounds that
possess a cleaning action. Although products used for handwashing
or antiseptic handwash in health-care settings represent various
types of detergents, the term "soap" is used to refer to such
detergents in this guideline.
Hand antisepsis. Refers to either antiseptic handwash or antiseptic
hand rub.
Hand hygiene. A general term that applies to either handwashing,
antiseptic handwash, antiseptic hand rub, or surgical hand
antisepsis.
Substantivity. Substantivity is an attribute of certain active
ingredients that adhere to the stratum corneum (i.e., remain on
the skin after rinsing or drying) to provide an inhibitory effect on
the growth of bacteria remaining on the skin.
Surgical hand antisepsis. Antiseptic handwash or antiseptic hand
rub performed preoperatively by surgical personnel to eliminate
transient and reduce resident hand flora. Antiseptic detergent
preparations often have persistent antimicrobial activity.
Hand washing video
Every year, many lives are lost
because of the spread of infections in
hospitals. Health care workers can
take steps to prevent the spread of
infectious diseases. These steps are
part of infection control.
Proper hand washing is the most
effective way to prevent the spread
of infections in hospitals!
Other steps health care workers can
take include:
•
•
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Covering coughs & sneezes
Staying up-to-date with immunizations
Using gloves, masks & protective clothing
Making tissues & hand cleaners available
Following guidelines when dealing with blood
or contaminated items
Samples of diseases common to
medical settings
Acinetobacter
• Acinetobacter [asz−in−ée−toe–back−ter] is a group of
bacteria commonly found in soil and water. Outbreaks
of Acinetobacter infections typically occur in intensive
care units and healthcare settings housing very ill
patients. While there are many types or “species” of
Acinetobacter and all can cause human disease,
Acinetobacter baumannii [asz−in−ée−toe–
back−ter bō–maa–nee–ie] accounts for about 80% of
reported infections.
• Acinetobacter infections rarely occur outside of
healthcare settings.
Burkholderia cepacia
• Burkholderia cepacia
[burk−hōld−er−uh si−pay−shee−uh] is the name for a
group or "complex" of bacteria that can be found in
soil and water. Burkholderia cepacia bacteria are
often resistant to common antibiotics. Burkholderia
cepacia poses little medical risk to healthy people;
however, it is a known cause of infections in
hospitalized patients. People with certain health
conditions, like weakened immune systems or chronic
lung diseases (particularly cystic fibrosis), may be
more susceptible to infections with Burkholderia
cepacia.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus
aureus (MRSA)
• Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) is a type of staph bacteria that is resistant
to certain antibiotics called beta-lactams. These
antibiotics include methicillin and other more
common antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin,
and amoxicillin. In the community, most MRSA
infections are skin infections. More severe or
potentially life-threatening MRSA infections occur
most frequently among patients in healthcare
settings.