Hand Hygiene: Methods, Significance, and Adherence Presentation

This presentation provides a comprehensive overview of hand hygiene, a crucial practice in healthcare settings. It defines hand hygiene and emphasizes its role in reducing the transmission of infections. The presentation outlines the five key moments for hand hygiene in healthcare and details the ABHR technique and hand washing with soap and water. It explores factors that contribute to poor adherence, such as skin irritation, lack of awareness, and overcrowding. The presentation provides step-by-step instructions for effective hand washing and highlights the significance of hand hygiene in reducing transient organisms and hospital-acquired infections. References to relevant research are also included, providing further insights into the topic.

HAND HYGIENE
-PRESENTED BY:

Hand-Hygiene
 Hand hygiene can be defined as the
process of cleansing hands with the
help of cleaning agents such as
antiseptic hand wash, alcohol-based
hand rub or surgical antiseptics in
order to reduce the chances of
transmission of infections.

When to observe hand-hygiene:
 In context of healthcare, the five
most important moments of
observing hand-hygiene includes the
following:
 Prior to patient contact
 Prior to aseptic task
 After body-fluid exposure risk
 After patient-contact
 After contact with the belongings of
the patient

Methods in hand-washing:
 ABHR technique that is widely
recommended for cleaning hands
when the hand is not visibly soiled
and has been studied to yield
accurate results up to 50-80%
 Observing hand washing with soap
and running water helps in cleaning
hands when the hands are visibly
soiled

Factors responsible for poor
adherence with hand-washing:
 Skin irritation and dryness caused
due to the use of hand washing
agents
 Patient priority
 Lack of clean washing soap and
towels
 Overcrowding
 Lack of awareness about
transmission of infection from
patients

Hand-washing steps:
 Step 1: Apply soap on palm
 Step 2: rub palms together
 Step 3: rub the back of both hands
 Step 4: Interface fingers and rub hands
together
 Step 5: interlock fingers and rub the back of
fingers
 Step 6: rub the thumb in a rotating manner and
the area between the thumb and the index
finger
 Step 7: Rub finger tips on palm
 Step 8: Rub both wrists in rotating manner

Significance of hand hygiene:
 Effective hand hygiene helps in
reducing the risk of the transmission
of infection from an infected
individual to a normal person
 Hand washing reduces the number
of transient organisms on the
surface of the skin
 Proper hand washing can help in the
reduction of hospital acquired
infections

References:
Allegranzi, B., Sax, H., & Pittet, D. (2013). Hand hygiene and healthcare
system change within multi-modal promotion: a narrative review. Journal
of Hospital Infection, 83, S3-S10.
Ellingson, K., Haas, J. P., Aiello, A. E., Kusek, L., Maragakis, L. L., Olmsted,
R. N., ... & VanAmringe, M. (2014). Strategies to prevent healthcare-
associated infections through hand hygiene. Infection Control & Hospital
Epidemiology, 35(8), 937-960.

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