Handwashing - A First Defense Against The Spread Of Infection

Healthcare professionals are aware of just how important good handwashing technique is to the prevention of infection. They know that handwashing can reduce microbial transmission patient to patient.

Handwashing can be a problem in healthcare settings that are busy because of high patient ratio and the rapid succession with which they are seen. Prevention control of infectious activities can limit the spread of infection and provide a safer enviroment for patients. In today's world of antibiotic resistant organisms, it is vital that handwashing be strictly enforced in the healthcare setting.

A Global Consensus Conference recently discussed Infection control and cited that the cost of control infections in 1992 was $1.3 billion dollars in the U.S. at 2,400,000 infections resulting in 30,000 deaths.

Healthcare professionals have the goal of cleansing the skin in order to prevent the transmission of infection. Hand hygiene is the single most important procedure health professionals have in preventing infection contamination from patient to patient.

Evidence supports the fact that soap or detergent is less effective than antiseptic agents in preventing the spread of infection. Therefore it is important to use an antiseptic product in high-risk areas, with high-risk patients or with known ARO patients. High-risk areas include:

Intensive care units (ICUs)

Transplant units

Burn units

Hematology and oncology units

Hemodialysis units

Patients who are identified as being those at highest risk for infection are:

Those receiving multiple antibiotics or are receiving repeated treatments

Those patients who have prolonged hospital stays

Patients who have frequent admissions

It is important in cases where there is no handwashing facility to remove soil from hands by means of rinsing, mechanical, rubbing or with use of wipes before using antiseptic products.

Handwashing is necessary before the following activities:

Before any invasive procedure

Before caring for a patient, especially high-risk patients, including newborns, and those who are immunocompromised.

Before and after touching wounds, or when associating with an invasive device.

After situations in which your hands may have come into contact with microbial contamination, especially situations involoving contact with blood, body fluids, mucous membranes, secretions or excretions.

After touching devices that are likely to be contaminated with virulent or epidemiological important microorganism, such as:

Urine-measuring devices or secretion collecting apparatuses.

After taking care of any patients who are considered to be infected with any microorganisms or any multiple-resistant bacteria.

Between patients who are in high-risk units.

Hand washing using vigorous rubbing using lathered hands for at least 30 seconds, scrubbing all surfaces of your hands. Surfaces washed should include in between the finger web space and inclusive of the dorsal and ventral surfaces of each hand. After washing it is then important to rinse under a steady stream of water.

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