HANDWASHING
1. Purpose:
To improve hand hygiene practices of all Healthcare Workers and reduce transmission
of pathogenic microorganisms to patients and personnel in healthcare settings.
2. General Information:
a. Hand Hygiene Technique:
When washing hands with a non-antimicrobial or antimicrobial soap, wet hands
first with warm water, apply 3 to 5 ml. of detergent to hands and rub hands
together vigorously for at least 15 seconds, covering all surfaces of the hands
and fingers. Rinse hands with warm water and dry thoroughly with a disposable
towel. Use towel to turn off the faucet.
b. Surgical Hand Antisepsis:
(1) Surgical hand antisepsis, using an antimicrobial soap, is recommended
before donning sterile gloves when performing surgical procedures.
(2) To reduce the number of bacteria that may be released from the hands of
surgical personnel, while minimizing skin damage related to surgical hand
antisepsis, decontaminate hands without using a brush.
(3) Invasive Procedure Preparation:
A 30-second handwashing (outside of the Operating Room) using an
iodophor or chlorhexidine product, should involve vigorous cleansing of
the fingers, between the fingers, hands, and wrists to mid-forearm, should
be done prior to any or invasive procedure including, but not limited to:
(a) IV Therapy and Invasive Line Insertion
(b) Dressing changes/wound irrigations
(c) Catheterization
(4) Surgical Scrub:
Iodophor or chlorhexidine products are used for surgical scrubs before
invasive or surgical procedures. Time of scrub when using iodophor
should be 5 minutes, and when using chlorhexidine should be 6 minutes.
c. Indications for Handwashing and Hand Antisepsis:
(1) Wash hands with an antimicrobial soap and water when hands are visibly
dirty or contaminated with proteinaceous material.
(2) Decontaminate hands before and after contact with a patient's intact skin
(as in taking a pulse or blood pressure, or lifting a p