Infection Prevention Solutions
• •
What did I just do that could have contaminated my hands? What am I about to do that could transfer micro-organisms to the service user?
5 Moments 1 Before touching a service user
2 Before clean / aseptic procedure
Examples of care activity • • • • • •
3 After body fluid exposure risk
4 After touching a service user 5 After touching service user surroundings
• • • • •
Before any direct contact with the service user Before applying electrodes etc. Before applying disposable gloves Before venepuncture Before handling / inserting an invasive device After contact with body fluids, excretions, mucous membrane, non-intact skin or wound dressing If moving from a contaminated body site to another body site during care of the same service user After removing gloves After any direct contact with the service user After removing gloves After contact with inanimate surfaces and medical equipment in the immediate vicinity of the service user i.e. within service user zone
As these examples show, hand hygiene is required both before and after contact or procedure. Decontaminating hands before contact or procedure will protect the service user. Decontaminating hands after contact or procedure will protect the HCW and subsequent contamination of the health-care environment.
Surgical Scrub Technique All sterile team members should perform the hand and arm scrub before entering the surgical suite. The basic principle of the scrub is to wash the hands thoroughly, and then to wash from a clean area (the hand) to a less clean area (the arm). A systematic approach to the scrub is an efficient way to ensure proper technique.
The purpose of surgical hand scrub is to: • Remove debris and transient microorganisms from the nails, hands and forearms • Reduce the resident microbial count to a minimum • Inhibit rapid rebound growth of microorganisms.
Sample Issue Date: 01/10/2022 Review Date: 30/09/2024
Hand Hygiene Infection Prevention Solutions ©2022 Page 11 of 14
