Hand Hygiene Session 3: Infection Control Basics.

Hand Hygiene

Session 3: Infection Control Basics

3: Hand Hygiene Slide 2

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this session, participants will:

Wash their hands more often on the job

Remove germs when they do wash their hands


Vocabulary

Disinfectant - a germ killing substance

Antiseptic - a disinfectant for use on skin

Microbes or germs - organisms too small to see including viruses, bacteria, and fungi etc.

Hand hygiene - all types of hand cleansing with and without water

HCW - health care worker, this includes contract workers, cleaners and aides

Invasive - entering the blood stream or the organs inside of the body

Mucous membranes - skin inside the mouth, nose, rectum, vagina,

etc.

Part I: Hand Washing Basics


The Goal of Handwashing:

To prevent the transfer of germs from your hands to patients


Handwashing helps stop the spread of germs between patients and between staff and patients

It protects both the patients and the caregivers

1. Protect the Patients


The Expectation

ACTION

An important matter is to wash your hands more often


Can I Make my Patients Sicker?

Every time you touch people or objects, your fingers leave germs on the skin and pick up new germs

Wet hands transfer more germs than dry hands. Always dry your hands after washing them


Hand Washing is Important for Patients and Family Too

If patients wash their hands, they can remove hospital germs before the germs enter the body

Your supervisor should provide water, soap or ash, and towels for the patient and family members at convenient places for hand washing


Doesn’t Skin Protect People from Germs?

Yes and No

Yes!

Skin is a good barrier and germs can be washed off when a patent bathes or washes hands

No!

Skin is a good thick barrier BUT germs on the skin can get inside the body where skin is thin or broken

Eyes, the inside of the nose, the mouth, vagina, and rectum have thin skin

Germs can pass through thin skin more easily than through than the thick skin on our feet and hands

What Tasks Touch these Parts of the Body?


Germs can Get Inside through Broken Skin

Germs get inside when we cut, or pierce the skin or touch open wounds:

Examples: surgery, injections, incisions to drain abscesses, biopsies, injections, changing dressings, childbirth


Tubes can also Carry Germs into the Body

Germs get carried inside by tubes that go through the skin:

Example: urinary catheters, IV lines, intra-thoracic drains, suction catheters

Tubes are a like a metro system for easy transport through the body!


When do you Need to Wash your Hands?


Important

Wash your hands before and after you:

Touch the eyes, give eye drops

Touch the inside of the nose (NG tubes)

Assist with pelvic exams

Do colonoscopies or give enemas

Touch any item that touches thin skin (mucous membranes)


Wash Hands and Wear Gloves when Opening Tubes that Enter the Body

Even a few germs deposited inside the body can cause an infection

It is important to have as few germs on the hands and tools as possible

Opening a urinary catheter or intra-thoracic drain puts the patient at risk

Staff must do hand hygiene - WEAR GLOVES!


Remember…

Always wash hands after removing gloves

Gloves are not a substitute for hand washing and need to be removed between patients

Part II: Hand Washing Techniques


Let’s Talk about Three Common Techniques for Hand Hygiene:

Hand wash with soap and water

Alcohol hand rub without water

Surgical hand scrub


For all Types of Hand Hygiene

Staff should:

Keep nails short (1-2mm)

Wear no nail polish

Remove jewelry, bracelets, wrist watches


Routine Hand Wash

Use poured or running water; never dip hands in a bowl of water

Use hand soap, ash, or sand (none kill germs, all are equally effective)

Rub all surfaces on both hands and both wrists - front, back and between - for at least 15 seconds

Rinse under running water

Dry hands with a clean towel or air dry


Soap Bars can be Contaminated

Soap doesn’t kill germs, so hands can easily contaminate it

Use very small bars of soap,or put soap on a string or rack to keep it dry

Refill containers with soap or antiseptics only after washing and drying


Antiseptics

Remember, an antiseptic is a germ killing substance that is safe for use on human skin. The most common antiseptic is alcohol or chlorhexidine


Antiseptics (cont’d)

There are other antiseptics that are used with water:

hexachloraphene

iodine

iodophors

para-chloro meta-xelenol


Alcohol Hand Rub Without Water

Antiseptics kills germs

Alcohol hand rub can be used without water, and is practical for a busy ward

If hands have visible dirt, handwashing with soap/ash and water is necessary first


Alcohol Hand Rub

Can replace routine handwashing, unless the hands are dirty

In addition, alcohol or other antiseptics should be used before placing IV, urinary catheters, doing dressing changes or other procedures requiring aseptic technique


Danger! Danger!

Many other disinfectants are UNSAFE for for human skin

Methanol is dangerous: Methylated spirits (i.e. a small amount of methanol in ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol) is safe

The label of FAMISOL says it is an antiseptic. This is not true. FAMISOL should not be used on skin


How to Clean Hands with Alcohol if Visible Dirt is not Present

Place a 2 rupee size spot (3-5 ml) in the palm of one hand

Rub hands together, all sides, fingers, wrist until dry


How is the Surgical Hand Scrub Different ?

The hands are wet and washed up to the elbow

A nail file is used to clean under the nails under running water

A long acting antiseptic is used, often (chlorhexidine, isodophors, sometimes with alcohol)

Hands are rubbed for 2-6 minutes and then washed under running water

Hands are dried on a sterile towel


Compare Hand Hygiene Methods

Routine hand wash with soap and water

• Only technique when hands have visible dirt

• Soap (or ash) and water to remove germs

Wet hands to wrist Use soap or ash Rub for at least 15

seconds Rinse with running water Dry by air or single use

towel

Alcohol hand rub

• Can replace routine hand wash if no visible dirt on hands

• Alcohol kills germs • Also done before

procedures needing aseptic technique

Place 3-5 ml on dry hands

Rub until dry

• No water or towels needed

Pre-Surgery/Surgical scrub

• Done before surgery or procedures needing sterile technique

• Antiseptic used to kill germs

Clean under nails with stick

Wet up to elbow Use antiseptic, long

acting and rub all surfaces for 2-6 minutes

Rinse with running water Dry with sterile towel


Hospital Hand Hygiene is Different from Cultural or Social Practises A hospital has more dangerous germs and more

vulnerable people that settings at home

Teach the hospital cleaners, aides, support staff, servants and other kind souls who help us everyday to:

Wash both hands

Use soap or ash

Rub until both hands are clean

Rinse hands under running water

Dry their hands


The Objective

To encourage you to wash your hands more often, and to remove more germs when you do so

This is only possible if the hospital provides soap, water, alcohol rubs, towels, towels and other facilities that make it possible

The IC committee pledges to work to make it easier for you to protect your patients and yourself

Thank You!

Hand Hygiene Session 3: Infection Control Basics.

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Transcript of Hand Hygiene Session 3: Infection Control Basics.