{"id":59,"date":"2018-06-05T11:34:01","date_gmt":"2018-06-05T15:34:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/clinicalproceduresforsaferpatientcaretrubscn\/chapter\/1-3-hand-hygiene-and-non-sterile-gloves\/"},"modified":"2020-03-23T13:49:49","modified_gmt":"2020-03-23T17:49:49","slug":"1-3-hand-hygiene-and-non-sterile-gloves","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/clinicalproceduresforsaferpatientcaretrubscn\/chapter\/1-3-hand-hygiene-and-non-sterile-gloves\/","title":{"raw":"1.3 Hand Hygiene and Non-Sterile Gloves","rendered":"1.3 Hand Hygiene and Non-Sterile Gloves"},"content":{"raw":"

Hand Hygiene<\/h1>\r\nHand hygiene is the most important part of practice for healthcare workers and is the single most effective way to stop the spread of infections; failure to properly perform hand hygiene is the leading cause of HAIs and the spread of multi-drug-resistant organisms (MDROs) (BC Centre for Disease Control, 2014; WHO, 2009a). Hand hygiene<\/strong>\u00a0is a general term used to describe any action of hand cleaning and refers to the removal or destruction of soil, oil, or organic material, as well as the removal of microbial contamination acquired by contact with patients or the environment. Hand hygiene may be performed using an alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) or soap and water. A surgical hand scrub is also a method of hand hygiene (WHO, 2009a).\r\n\r\nTo break the chain of infection, there are five key moments at which to perform hand hygiene when working in healthcare, as outlined in Checklist 2 and illustrated in Figure 1.1.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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\u00a0 \u00a0<\/a>Checklist 2: Five Key Moments in Hand Hygiene<\/span><\/h3>\r\n
Disclaimer:\u00a0Always review and follow your agency policy regarding this specific skill.<\/span><\/h5>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

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Safety considerations:<\/span><\/h5>\r\n
    \r\n \t
  • If contact dermatitis occurs, use soap and water for hand hygiene.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
  • Instruct patients and family on the importance of hand hygiene, proper technique, and ways to incorporate routines into everyday practice.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
  • Certain practices can increase the risk of skin irritation and should be avoided. For example, washing hands regularly with soap and water immediately before or after using an alcohol-based product is not only unnecessary but may lead to dermatitis. <\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
  • Always wash hands whenever in doubt.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
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Key Moments<\/h4>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

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\u00a0Additional Information<\/h4>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

1. Before initial contact with a patient, client, resident, or the environment.<\/td>\r\nBefore touching a patient (e.g.,\u00a0feeding, toileting, or personal care)\r\n\r\nBefore touching the patient's environment\r\n\r\nBefore adjusting an IV rate\r\n\r\nBefore taking a pulse or blood pressure<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
2. Before any clean (routine) or aseptic (sterile) procedure<\/td>\r\nBefore applying clean or sterile gloves\r\n\r\nBefore performing a sterile dressing change\r\n\r\nBefore feeding a patient\r\n\r\nBefore performing oral or dental care\r\n\r\nBefore inserting eye drops\r\n\r\nBefore inserting Foley catheter\r\n\r\nBefore preparing medication<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
3. After blood or body fluid risk or exposure<\/td>\r\nAfter contact with body secretions, mucous membranes, or non-intact skin\r\n\r\nAfter glove removal (clean or sterile gloves)\r\n\r\nAfter handling waste (urine, drainage, wound care)\r\n\r\nAfter wound care or a sterile procedure\r\n\r\nWhen moving from a contaminated area on the body to a non-contaminated area<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
4. After contact or touching the patient, client, or resident<\/td>\r\nAfter taking a blood pressure or pulse, touching a urinary catheter, or feeding or dressing a patient<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
5. After contact with the patient's, client's, resident's environment<\/td>\r\nAfter touching a bed table or bathroom light\r\n\r\nAfter touching personal toiletries\r\n\r\nAfter touching walkers or wheelchairs\r\n\r\nAfter touching electronic IV devices\r\n\r\nAfter taking blood pressure or pulse\r\n\r\nAfter changing bed linen<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Data source:\u00a0Kampf & Loffler, 2003; WHO, 2009a, 2009b<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_27\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"800\"]\"5 Figure 1.1 Five moments in hand hygiene from the World Health Organization<\/a>[\/caption]\r\n

Safety Alert: Factors that Reduce Hand Hygiene Effectiveness<\/h2>\r\n