Handwashing

1. Handwashing Recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

2. In a Healthcare Setting • Regular handwashing is the MOST important practice for aseptic technique. • Ingredients = plain soap and water • Use regular handwashing for routine cleansing and whenever the hands are visibly soiled.

3. OSHA • Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) sets safety standards for the workplace. • OSHA standards include standards that prevent the spread of bloodborne pathogens. • Handwashing – an important safety standard. • According to the CDC, “Handwashing is a simple thing and it's the best way to prevent infection and illness.”

4. Antiseptic Handwashing • Use an antimicrobial soap and water. • Usually used before invasive procedures, in critical care units, or when a patient is on transmission-based precautions. • Should antimicrobial handwashing be used more frequently? Why or why not?

5. Antiseptic Hand Rubs • Alcohol-based • Use when hands are not visibly soiled

6. When Should You Wash Your Hands? • When arriving at and before leaving a healthcare facility. • Before and after every patient contact. • Before moving from a contaminated body site to a clean body site. • Any time hands become contaminated during a procedure. • Before applying and immediately after removing gloves.

7. When Should You Wash Your Hands? • Any time gloves are torn or punctured. • Before and after handling specimens. • After picking up an item off the floor. • After personal use of the bathroom. • After you cough, sneeze, or use a tissue. • Before or after any contact with your mouth or mucous membrane (eating, drinking, inserting contacts, etc.)

8. Group Discussion • Do all healthcare workers practice all of these handwashing standards all of the time? • Based on what you have learned, would you guess that nosocomial infections are almost always preventable, often preventable, or occasionally preventable? • Are some healthcare professionals more likely to wash their hands than others? Why?