The single most effective method for reducing the transmission of microorganisms!

Developed by Provincial Infection Control

Education Task Group

June 2016

Transmission of organisms Transmission of organisms by hands of health care providers between two patients can result in health care associated infections (HAIs).

Adapted from the Swiss Hand Hygiene Campaign

•The practice of proper hand hygiene remains the primary measure to reduce HCAI’s.

• Some studies suggest this reduction could be as much as 50%!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/7991492/Rubbing-hands-together-after-washing-them-increases-the-danger-of-contamination-scientists-warn.html

http://www.nhslanarkshire.org.uk/HealthyLiving/HandHygiene/Pages/default.aspx

Why does hand hygiene work? Hand hygiene with alcohol-based hand rub – correctly applied – kills organisms in seconds. Hand hygiene with soap and water – done correctly – removes organisms.

Adapted from the Swiss Hand Hygiene Campaign

1. Before initial

patient/patient

environment

contact

•When entering:

A facility

A patient’s room/house

•Before touching:

A patient

Objects or furniture in the

patient’s environment

2. Before

aseptic

procedures

•Administering medications

•Dressing changes

•Catheter insertion

•Accessing a vascular device

•Oral/dental care

•Putting on gloves

3. After body

fluid exposure

risk

•Oral/dental care

•Dressing changes

•Draining a catheter

•Accessing vascular devices

•Cleaning up contaminated or visibly

soiled items

•Removing gloves

4. After

patient/patient

environment

contact

•Shaking hands

•Helping a patient to ambulate

•Taking vital signs

•Touching a bedrail

•Changing bed linen

•Clearing the bedside table

•Leaving a patient’s room/house

Patient’s Environment

This includes: • Patient ‘s bedside table and chair • IV Pole • TV/Telephone

Patient environments look different depending on the health care setting. This includes anything that your patient can reach or where you interact with patients.

It is not just the patient

themselves!!

How to decide what to use?

Alcohol Based Hand Rub

• When hands are not visibly soiled

Soap and Water

• When hands are visibly soiled

• When caring for a patient with diarrhea (Example : C.diff)

BEFORE

Donning (Applying)

gloves Eating Going home

After

Doffing (Removing)

gloves

Using the toilet

Blowing or wiping your

nose

Handling soiled items

Other times when hand hygiene needs to be

performed

Clean your hands whenever you feel you need to clean them!

To effectively reduce the

growth of germs on hands,

handrubbing must be

performed by following all

steps illustrated on the

left.

This takes only 20-30 secs!

To effectively reduce the growth of germs on hands, handwashing must last 40-60 secs from start to finish and should be performed by following all steps illustrated on the left.

• Gloves do not replace the need for hand hygiene • Avoid hand washing immediately before or after

using an alcohol-based hand rub • Avoid hot water • Let hands dry completely before donning gloves • Use health care approved hand lotions and

creams often • Address allergies or adverse reactions • Do not wear artificial fingernails or extenders • Keep nails short and clean • Wear only acceptable jewelry (i.e. plain wedding

band), none is best

Did You Know?

• 80% of hospital staff who have dressed wounds infected with MRSA carried that organism on their hands for up to 3 hours afterward

• 60% of hospital staff who have made contact with a patient with C.

difficile infection (even when the patient wasn’t touched) carried the pathogen on their hands for up to ½ hour afterward

Mitka, M. Reprinted in JAMA November 2009 302(17)

STOP! Clean Your Hands!

Hand Hygiene Facts

Most health care workers believe they are

already practicing good hand hygiene. Research has shown that hand hygiene

compliance is:

<40%

The power to make a difference is in your hands.

http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/c/clean_hands.asp

Main Resource

Canadian Patient Safety Institute (CPSI). http://www.patientsafetyinstitute.ca/en/Pages/default.aspx

Fact Sheets

Canadian Patient Safety Institute (CPSI). Safer healthcare Now! Canada's hand Hygiene Challenge. Fact Sheets about Hand Hygiene.

http://www.patientsafetyinstitute.ca/en/toolsResources/Pages/Fact-Sheets.aspx

E-Learning module

Canadian Patient Safety Institute (CPSI). Safer healthcare Now! Canada's hand Hygiene Challenge. Hand Hygiene Education E-Learning Module.

http://cpsi.discoverycampus.com/en/index.html

Certificate of Excellence

Canadian Patient Safety Institute (CPSI). Saferhealthcare Now! Canada's hand Hygiene Challenge. Stop Clean Your Hands Certificate of Excellence.

http://www.patientsafetyinstitute.ca/en/Events/StopCleanYourHandsDay/Documents/Certificate%20of%20Excellence_Final_Certificate_EN.pdf

Videos

Public Health Ontario. Partners for health.

https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/BrowseByTopic/InfectiousDiseases/JustCleanYourHands/Pages/JCYH-videos.aspx

Removing what the eye cannot see: Stop the train in its tracks. MedPro Defense

http://www.nocospray.ca/en/content/break-the-chain-wash-your-hands/

Crossword

Canadian Patient Safety Institute (CPSI). Safer healthcare Now! Canada's hand Hygiene Challenge. Stop Clean Your Hands Crossword.

http://www.patientsafetyinstitute.ca/en/Events/StopCleanYourHandsDay/Documents/Hand%20Hygiene%20Crossword%20Eng.pdf

Word Search

CanadianPatient Safety Institute (CPSI).Saferhealthcare Now!Canada's hand Hygiene Challenge. Stop Clean Your HandsWord search.

http://www.patientsafetyinstitute.ca/en/Events/StopCleanYourHandsDay/Documents/Hand%20Hygiene%20Word%20Search%20ENG.pdf