Hand washing and Infection Control

Definitions
 Hand hygiene
- Performing handwashing, antiseptic handwash, alcohol-based handrub, surgical hand
hygiene/antisepsis
 Handwashing
- Washing hands with plain soap and water
 Antiseptic handwash
- Washing hands with water and soap or other detergents containing an antiseptic agent
 Alcohol-based handrub
- Rubbing hands with an alcohol-containing preparation
 Surgical hand hygiene/antisepsis
- Handwashing or using an alcohol-based handrub before operations by surgical personnel

Why is Hand washing Important?

- Routine Hand washing prevents the spread of disease!

How disease spreads?

- Infectious diseases can spread in a variety of ways.

Common Microbes

Microbes found on a cutting board. E Coli. Staphylococcus aureus

Proper hand washing with soap and water

Follow these instructions for washing with soap and water:

 Wet your hands with warm, running water and apply liquid or clean bar soap. Lather well.
 Rub your hands vigorously together for at least 15 seconds.
 Scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under
your fingernails.
 Rinse well.
 Dry your hands with a clean or disposable towel.
 Use a towel to turn off the tap.

Recommended Hand Hygiene Technique

 Handrubs
-Apply to palm of one hand, rub hands together covering all surfaces until dry
-Volume: based on manufacturer
 Handwashing
-Wet hands with water, apply soap, rub hands together for at least 15 seconds
-Rinse and dry with disposable towel
-Use towel to turn off faucet

How to handrub

To effectively reduce the growth of germs on hands, handrubbing must be performed by following all
of the illustrated steps.
This takes only 20–30 seconds!

How to handwash

To effectively reduce the growth of germs on hands,

handwashing
must last 40–60 secs
and should be performed by following all of the
illustrated steps
Hand hygiene and glove use