Tessa Quinn
Hand hygiene is essential in hospitals to prevent the spread of infections and keep patients, staff, and visitors safe. Healthcare workers are encouraged to wash their hands frequently, especially before and after interacting with patients, to reduce the risk of transmitting dangerous pathogens. Proper hand hygiene involves wetting your hands with warm water, applying soap, and vigorously rubbing for at least 15 to 20 seconds, ensuring all surfaces of the hands and fingers are covered. Drying hands with a paper towel is recommended, and alcohol-based hand sanitizers are preferred when hands are not visibly dirty. Patients and visitors also play a role in maintaining hand hygiene, reducing the spread of germs, and protecting their health and that of others in the hospital.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| When to wash hands | Before touching a patient, before clean/aseptic procedures, after bodily fluid exposure/risk, after touching a patient, after touching patient surroundings, before eating, after using the bathroom, after touching hospital surfaces, before touching wounds, bandages, IV lines, catheters or tools used to treat the patient |
| How to wash hands | Wash hands for at least 15-20 seconds, use liquid soap if possible, rub hands together until the soap forms a lather and then rub all over the top of your hands, in between your fingers, and the area around and under the fingernails, rinse hands well under running water, dry hands using a paper towel, use hand sanitiser in the absence of soap and water |
| Hand hygiene in hospitals | Healthcare workers should regularly wash hands, patients and visitors should also maintain hand hygiene habits, handwashing prevents the spread of infections and diseases |
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What You'll Learn
When to wash your hands: before and after touching a patient
Hand hygiene is essential to providing safe, cost-efficient, and quality care to patients. It is one of the best ways to prevent getting sick and stop the spread of germs to others. According to the CDC, hand hygiene is the most important practice in reducing the transmission of infection in healthcare settings.
Healthcare workers should wash their hands before and after touching a patient. This includes before and after touching a patient's surroundings, such as bed rails, bedside tables, doorknobs, remote controls, and phones. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are the preferred method for cleaning hands when they are not visibly dirty, as they are more effective at killing potentially harmful germs than soap. However, if hands are visibly soiled, soap and water should be used.
When washing hands with soap and water, it is important to wash for at least 15 to 20 seconds, ensuring that all areas of the hands and fingers are covered. Begin by wetting your hands and wrists with warm water, then apply a small amount of liquid soap. Rub your hands together until a lather forms, then continue rubbing for at least 15 seconds. Rinse your hands well under running water and dry them using a paper towel.
Patients and their loved ones can remind healthcare workers to practice proper hand hygiene. It is recommended to wash hands frequently, and healthcare personnel may need to clean their hands up to 100 times during a work shift to ensure the safety of themselves, patients, and staff.
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How long to wash for: at least 15-20 seconds
When washing your hands, it is important to wash them for at least 15 to 20 seconds. Research shows that most people do not wash their hands long enough for it to be fully effective. A good way to keep track of time is to set a timer or quietly hum the "Happy Birthday" song twice.
Washing your hands is one of the most basic defences against the spread of germs and bacteria. Hands commonly come in contact with the face, where germs can easily enter through the mouth, nose and eyes. It is important to wash your hands many times throughout the day, especially before preparing food and after using the bathroom.
Healthcare workers are advised to wash their hands over 100 times during a 12-hour shift. However, studies have found that nurses only complied with handwashing procedures 42% of the time and physicians only 38% of the time.
Handwashing is the most cost-effective way to prevent the transmission of infections. It is also important to use the correct technique when washing your hands. This includes using soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand sanitiser, and ensuring that all areas of the hands are cleaned.
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What to use: soap and water, or hand sanitiser
When in a hospital, it is important to know when to use soap and water and when hand sanitiser is more appropriate. Alcohol-based hand sanitiser is the preferred method for cleaning your hands when they are not visibly dirty. Hand sanitiser is more effective at killing potentially deadly germs on hands than soap, and it is easier to use during the course of care, especially when moving from soiled to clean activities with the same patient, or when moving between patients in shared rooms or common areas. Hand sanitiser also improves skin condition with less irritation and dryness than soap and water.
However, hand sanitiser is not always the best option. Soap and water are more effective than hand sanitiser at getting rid of certain germs that can make you very sick, like norovirus and C. diff, and removing pesticides and heavy metals such as lead. Soap and water are also better at removing dirt, grease or residue from outdoor activities like fishing or camping.
If your hands are visibly dirty, you should always opt for soap and water. Begin by wetting your hands with warm water and applying a small amount of liquid soap. Rub your hands together until the soap forms a lather, and then rub your hands, including the areas between your fingers and around and under your fingernails, for at least 15 seconds. Rinse your hands under running water and dry them with a paper towel.
If your hands are not visibly dirty, an alcohol-based hand sanitiser is the best option. Apply the hand sanitiser to your hands and rub your hands together until they feel dry. This should take around 20 seconds.
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Technique: rub hands vigorously, covering all surfaces
Hand hygiene is of utmost importance in hospitals, where patients with weakened immune systems are highly susceptible to bacteria and pathogens. Washing your hands is one of the most basic defences against the spread of germs and bacteria.
When washing your hands, use a vigorous motion to create friction and ensure you cover all surfaces of your hands and fingers. Begin by wetting your hands with warm water. Use liquid soap if possible, and apply a small amount to your hands. Rub your hands together until the soap forms a lather, then continue rubbing vigorously for at least 15 seconds. Make sure to cover all surfaces, including the tops of your hands, in between your fingers, and around and under your fingernails.
If you are a healthcare worker, remember to wash your hands before and after touching a patient or their surroundings. This includes before entering a patient's room and after leaving, even if you did not come into physical contact with the patient. Additionally, always wash your hands before and after any clean or aseptic procedures, such as drawing blood or giving an IV.
While hand sanitiser can be useful when soap and water are not available, it is not as effective as handwashing at removing certain types of germs and harmful substances. Therefore, it is recommended to use soap and water whenever possible, especially if your hands are visibly dirty.
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Drying: use a paper towel to dry hands and turn off the faucet
Once you have thoroughly rinsed your hands, it is important to dry them using a paper towel. Paper towels are preferable to other methods of drying as they are a more hygienic option.
When drying your hands, you should pat them dry rather than rubbing them together. Patting your hands dry helps to promote healthy skin. Rubbing your hands together vigorously can cause irritation, especially if your skin is already prone to dryness.
If possible, use the paper towel to turn off the faucet. This is a more hygienic way to turn off the tap as it means that you do not have to touch the faucet with your clean hands. You can also use the paper towel to open the door, if needed.
It is important to dry your hands thoroughly. Hands should be dried for at least 15 to 20 seconds. This helps to ensure that your hands are completely dry and free of any remaining germs or bacteria.
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Frequently asked questions
You should wash your hands for at least 15-20 seconds. Research shows that most people don't wash their hands for long enough. Try setting a timer, or humming the "Happy Birthday" song twice.
Firstly, wet your hands with warm water. Apply a small amount of liquid soap and rub your hands together until the soap forms a lather. Rub your hands, ensuring you cover all surfaces, including the fingers, between the fingers, and the area around and under the fingernails. Rinse your hands under running water and dry them with a paper towel.
Handwashing is one of the most important ways to prevent the spread of germs and infections in hospitals. It is important to wash your hands before and after visiting a patient, and after touching any surfaces in the hospital, such as bed rails and doorknobs. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are preferred when your hands are not visibly dirty, but soap and water are more effective at removing certain types of germs.
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