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HAND HYGIENE A SCREENSHOT
DR SOMANSU BASU, MD, DMM (France), CIC (USA)SPECIALIST PATHOLOGY/MICROBIOLOGYNMC SPECIALTY HOSPITALAL AIN, UAE
Maternal Mortality due to Postpartum Infection General Hospital, Vienna, Austria, 1841-1850
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MDs Midwives
Semmelweis’ Hand Hygiene Intervention
~ Hand antisepsis reduces the frequency of patient infections ~
Adapted from: Hosp Epidemiol Infect Control, 2nd Edition, 1999.
The Intervention:Hand scrub with chlorinated
lime solution
Hand hygiene basin at the Lying-In Women’s Hospital in Vienna, 1847.
Colonized or Infected:What is the Difference?
People who carry bacteria without evidence of infection (fever, increased white blood cell count) are colonized
If an infection develops, it is usually from bacteria that colonize patients
Bacteria that colonize patients can be transmitted from one patient to another by the hands of healthcare workers
~ Bacteria can be transmitted even if the patient is not infected ~
Resident skin flora
micro-organisms which live in deep crevices and hair follicles, known as skin flora.
most are bacteria of low pathogenicity, such as coagulase-negative staphylococci.
not readily transferred to other people and most are not easily removed by washing with soap.
do not need to be removed from the hands during routine clinical care.
during invasive procedures, e.g. minor surgery, there is a risk that resident micro-organisms may enter the patient’s tissues and cause an infection.
Transient skin flora micro-organisms acquired on the hands through contact with
other sites on the same individual, from other people, or from the environment.
easily acquired by touch, and readily transferred to the next person or surface touched, so may be responsible for the transmission of infection.
removal of transient micro-organisms is therefore essential in preventing cross-infection, and their removal is easily achieved by washing with soap and water.
Advantages:1.Greater antimicrobial efficacy2.Available at point of care3.Faster use4.Better tolerability by the skin
ARE ALCOHOL-BASED SANITISERS GOOD ENOUGH?
YES
Thus, alcohol-based hand rubs can be used as a rapid method of removing microorganisms from the hands.
What is the single most important reason for healthcare workers to practice good hand
hygiene? 1. To remove visible soiling from hands
2. To prevent transfer of bacteria from the home to the hospital
3. To prevent transfer of bacteria from the hospital to the home
4. To prevent infections that patients acquire in the hospital
What is the single most important reason for healthcare workers to practice good hand
hygiene?
1. To remove visible soiling from hands
2. To prevent transfer of bacteria from the home to the hospital
3. To prevent transfer of bacteria from the hospital to the home
4. To prevent infections that patients acquire in the hospital
When a healthcare worker touches a patient who is COLONIZED, but not
infected with resistant organisms (e.g., MRSA or VRE) the HCW’s hands are a
source for spreading resistant organisms to other patients.
1. Strongly agree
2. Agree
3. Don’t know
4. Disagree
5. Strongly disagree
When a healthcare worker touches a patient who is COLONIZED, but not
infected with resistant organisms (e.g., MRSA or VRE) the HCW’s hands are a
source for spreading resistant organisms to other patients.
1. Strongly agree
2. Agree
3. Don’t know
4. Disagree
5. Strongly disagree
How often do you clean your hands after touching an ENVIRONMENTAL
SURFACE near a patient (for example, a countertop or bedrail)?
1. Always
2. Often
3. Sometimes
4. Never
How often do you clean your hands after touching an ENVIRONMENTAL
SURFACE near a patient (for example, a countertop or bedrail)?
1. Always
2. Often
3. Sometimes
4. Never
How often do you clean your hands after touching a PATIENT’S INTACT SKIN (for
example, when measuring a pulse or blood pressure)?
1. 1. Always
2. Often
3. Sometimes
4. Never
How often do you clean your hands after touching a PATIENT’S INTACT SKIN (for
example, when measuring a pulse or blood pressure)?
1. Always
2. Often
3. Sometimes
4. Never
Glove use for all patient care contacts is a useful strategy for reducing risk of
transmission of organisms.
1. Strongly agree
2. Agree
3. Don’t know
4. Disagree
5. Strongly disagree
Glove use for all patient care contacts is a useful strategy for reducing risk of
transmission of organisms.
1. Strongly agree
2. Agree
3. Don’t know
4. Disagree
5. Strongly disagree
Clean Hands Save Lives
Keeping our hands clean is one of the most important things we can do to keep from getting sick and from spreading germs to others.
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