STANDARD PRECAUTIONS FOR ALL PATIENT CARE

They’re based on a risk assessment and make use of common-sense practices and
personal protective equipment use that protect healthcare providers from infection
and prevent the spread of infection from patient to patient.

HAND HYGIENE
WHY IS HAND HYGIENE IMPORTANT?
 Infections are a serious problem in healthcare facilities.
 Every year, an estimated 2 million patients get a hospital-related infection.
 90,000 dies from their infection.
 Many infections are transmitted on the hands of healthcare personnel.
 Hand hygiene is part of Standard Precautions. It can reduce the transmission of
healthcare-associated infections – to your patients and to you.
DO YOU USE HAND HYGIENE WHEN YOU SHOULD?
Healthcare personnel practice hand hygiene about half the time they should. Hand hygiene
is often not practiced:
Before:
 having contact with patients
 putting on gloves
 inserting any invasive device
 manipulating an invasive device
After:
 having contact with a patient’s skin
 having contact with bodily fluids or excretions, non-intact skin, wound dressings,
contaminated items
 having contact with inanimate objects near a patient
 removing gloves
BUT I DIDN'T TOUCH THE PATIENT. WHY SHOULD I PRACTICE HAND HYGIENE?
Bacteria can survive for DAYS on patient care equipment and other surfaces.
Surfaces in the patient care environment – including bed rails, IV pumps, and even
computer keyboards – are often contaminated with bacteria.
It’s important to practice hand hygiene after you leave the room, even if you only touched
patient care equipment or other surfaces.
TYPES:
 Soap and Water Based
 Alcohol Based Hand-Rubs