AJITH KOZHIKOTEON

DOCTORS' HAND HYGIENE

NEED FOR HAND HYGIENEDoctors have to be extra cautious about their hygiene because they have a responsibility of

saving someone's life. Everybody has germs on their bodies, so if the physicians would avoid following the health rules, they can effect the

health of so many patients. These germs can be picked easily through a normal contact with a

person, so if they are transferred from a life saver, then what is the need of any treatment.

Most of the germs are transferred through hand contact.

SOME FACTS1. The hand hygiene audit data in Australia

revealed that the nurses followed the rules more strongly and doctors kept ignoring the hand hygiene due to several reasons, leaving the

compliance rates of 83% and 66% respectively.

2. According to the World Health Organization, the neglect in the health hygiene has caused

numerous infections, and has caused many deaths.

3. A study revealed that in Geneva, the use of alcohol based hand wash increased the hand

hygiene up to 66% in five years.

WHEN YOU NEED HAND HYGIENE?

Hand hygiene is must before the the point of care

You must wash your hands before coming in contact with a patient

If there is a risk of body fluid exposure After coming in contact from any patient Before and after any medical process

PROPER WAY OF HAND WASH Rub your hands properly with an alcohol

based formulation Don't wash your hands with soap and

water, immediately after using an alcohol based formulation to avoid the risk of contact dermatitis.

Dry your hands thoroughly to remove the pathogens from your hands completely.

You must wash your hands for at least 40-60 seconds to reduce the growth of germs on your hands.

EFFORTS TAKEN BY THE HOSPITALS

The increasing diseases and infections because of the poor hygiene have encouraged the hospitals

to take some steps towards improving the percentage of hand hygiene in their health

institutions.

Many hospitals used the soap bottles or the alcohol formulation bottles which carried the message, “A simple hand wash can save your

life.” Some other messages which really improved the compliance rate were “Wash hands to save the lives of your patients.”

Don't hesitate to remind the Doctor or Nurse to wash their hands before coming

in contact with you. It is not just about you, but about them too.

Stay Safe & Stay Healthy With

Ajith Kozhikote