Post on 07-May-2015
description
Importance of HAND HYGIENE
in healthcare settings
Presented by
Dr. Garima Aggarwal
Today lets start with discussing some common
KILLERS
Oops ….wrong killers!!!At PCH, the killers we need to more seriously worry about are…..
Our AIM today To get a better understanding of why, healthcare
workers MUST NOT – Exhibit poor personal hygiene Wear stoned rings, bracelets, wrist watches Have long nails, dirty nails, or wear nail varnish, or wear
any kind of artificial nail attachments Know when and how to wash hands and its importanceif they are involved with DIRECT PATIENT CARE.
Apply the knowledge gained to inform your colleagues who might still be wearing excessive jewellery or have long nails.
Why should you care???
Because
we have the facts!!
to prove just how much danger we are putting our patients lives in, by refusing to make these small lifestyle changes.
Whats the harm with long nails, artificial nails or nail paint/varnish?
Inhibits good hand hygiene May reduce your grip or speed while doing
various manipulations May tear or puncture gloves. May interfere with
putting on gloves Can become caught in beddings, dressings and
even machinery Long nails and artificial nails are a breeding
ground for various DISEASE CAUSING MICRO ORGANISMS AND FUNGI
Before we discuss the facts, let me tell you a story…
Evidence supporting the claim-
o Outbreak of pseudomonas infection in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Casuality- 46 patients were affected, 16 diedCause- growth found in fingernails of staff
o Haemodialysis related BactereamiaCasuality- 5 haemodialysis patients found to have
bactereamic sepsisCause- Growth of Serattia Marcescens found in the long
fingernails of HCW involved. HCW admitted to not washing her hands and having long nails during detaching lid from heparin vial
o Outbreak of Candida osteomyelitis in patients post spinal surgery
Casuality- 3 patients post surgery found to have surgical wound infections due to Candida Albicans
Cause- A single scrub nurse who had worn artificial nails during the 2 month period when the patients had surgery
o In a hospital in Australia, Bacteria was cultured from the nail varnish of an ot nurse after she had scrubbed, the nail paint may chip and fall during surgery!
Our patients Our long nails, artificial
nails, nail varnish!!
Jewellery or weapons of mass destruction, in a healthcare setting???
Whats the harm with wearing rings or other Hand jewellery? Higher Bacterial colonisation is seen on the hands of
healthcare worker with rings, than one without Rings may interfere with thorough hand washing May cause gloves to tear Wearing a single ring or a simple band found to be much
LESS dangerous than wearing multiple rings or large rings with multiple stones or detailed scrollwork!
Elaborate hand jewellery, bracelets or bangles known to interfere with active patient intervention.
HCWs who took off their rings/jewellery just before a surgical procedure had higher bacterial counts than control even after hand scrub.
So who is most AT RISK?
Evidence suggests that the risk groups are-
NeonatesPost surgical patientsPatients on dialysis Immunocompromised
patients ICU patients
How clean are your hands today??
HAND WASH
Hand washing prevents the spread of diease!
Hands must be washed for atleast 20-25 seconds.
Even intact skin of patients and healthcare workers can be colonised with disease causing bacteria!
My 5 moments of HAND WASH
According to WHO, the five moments you must remember to wash your hands after
Before Patient contact Before aseptic task After body fluid exposure After Patient contact After contact with patient’s surroundings
So isn’t hand washing the answer to all these problems! thats what I thought…
World Health Organisation guidelines on hand hygiene state that poor nail hygiene, long nails and jewellery can contribute to nails remaining contaminated with pathogens even after use of soap and water or alcohol based antiseptics
NO!!
I hope after today, all of us will do our bit to protect our patients and have them leave Pushpanjali Medical Centre,
healthy and happy!
Thank you.
Any questions?