Hand Hygiene and Healthcare
Proper hand hygiene should be a top priority in most settings, but even more so in the healthcare industry. When staff practices correct hand hygiene, germs are removed or killed. Hand hygiene is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of communicable diseases and infections, according to Infection Prevention and Control Canada (IPAC). Patients, staff and visitors can be susceptible to healthcare-associated infections (HAI). In order to reduce this risk of exposure, IPAC states that hand hygiene in all healthcare fields is required:
- Before and after contact with any patient/resident, their body substances or items contaminated by them
- Between different procedures on the same patient/resident
- Before and after performing invasive procedures
- Before preparing, handling, serving or eating food or feeding a patient/resident
- After assisting patients/residents with personal care (e.g., assisting patient to blow nose, using the washroom or doing wound care)
- Before putting on and after taking off gloves
- After performing personal functions (e.g., using the washroom, blowing your nose)
- When hands come into contact with secretions, excretions, blood and body fluids (use soap and running water whenever hands are visibly soiled)
Making staff aware of hand hygiene practices through training and follow-up reminders can increase the probability of compliance. It’s also important that staff has convenient access to the right hand soaps and sanitizers. If these products are placed where the patient care is taking place, they are more apt to use them and form habits. Proper hand hygiene can have a positive effect on patient health, safety and satisfaction.
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