HAND WASHING

Mrs.Anju Bobin Clinical Instructor

INTRODUCTION

DEFINITION
Hand hygiene :- Performing handwashing, antiseptic handwash, alcoholbased handrub, surgical hand hygiene/antisepsis. Hand washing for hand hygiene is the act of cleaning the hands with or without the use of water or another liquid, or with the use of soap, for the purpose of removing soil, dirt, and/or microorganisms Antiseptic hand wash:-Washing hands with water and soap or other detergents containing an antiseptic agent Alcohol-based hand rub:-Rubbing hands with an alcohol-containing preparation Surgical hand hygiene/antisepsis:-Handwashing or using an alcohol-based handrub before operations by surgical personnel

INDICATIONS FOR HAND HYGIENE

When hands are visibly dirty, contaminated, or soiled, wash with non-antimicrobial or antimicrobial soap and water. If hands are not visibly soiled, use an alcohol-based handrub for routinely decontaminating hands.

Specific indication for hand hygiene

Before:
Patient contact Donning gloves when inserting a CVC Inserting urinary catheters, peripheral vascular catheters, or other invasive devices that dont require surgery

After:
Contact with a patients skin Contact with body fluids or excretions, non-intact skin, wound dressings Removing gloves

POINTS TO BE KEPT IN MIND WHILE WASHING HAND ARE: Cut short nails. A long nail will give roof to the dirt and micro-organisms. Remove the jewellery of any type Open the tap and wet the hands below the elbow level because hands are considered to be more contaminated than the elbows, hence the water should flow from the area of least contaminated (the elbows) to the are of more contamination(the hands)in case of medical handwashing.

 In case of surgical hand washing the least contaminated is hand and most contaminated is elbow ,so water flow from hand to elbow. Apply the soap or detergent Wash the hands thoroughly Rinse hands by keeping the hands well below the elbow level. The water flows from the elbow to the hands

THINGS NEEDED FOR PROPER HAND WASHING

Timing of the procedure :Hand rub:- 20 30 secs Hand washing:- 40 60 secs

Rinse hands by keeping the hands well below the elbow level. The water flows from the elbow to the hands.
While washing, if the hands touch the sink or other objects accidently, the whole procedure needs to be repeated .

CONCULSION