Strategies to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections through Hand Hygiene
Key Points
Key Points
- Hand hygiene programs should strive to create a culture of safety in which all healthcare personnel (HCP) collaborate to protect patients or residents.
- Interprofessional dialogue and safe spaces for learning about hand hygiene provide motivation and engagement of HCP.
- This pocket guide highlights practical recommendations to assist acute care hospitals in implementing and prioritizing efforts to prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) through hand hygiene.
- It is based on a synthesis of evidence, theoretical rationale, current practices, practical considerations, author consensus, and consideration of potential harm, where applicable.
- No guideline or expert guidance document can anticipate all clinical situations. This pocket guide is not meant to be a substitute for individual clinical judgment by qualified professionals.
Recommendations
...mendations...
.... Recommendations to Prevent Healthcare-A...
...l Practices: foundational to all HAI...
1. Promote the maintenance of healthy hand skin...
...omote the preferential use of alcoho...
...and hygiene as indicated by the US Center...
...Include fingernail care in facility-speci...
...measures for primary and secondary prevent...
...Provide HCP with readily accessible, facility-appr...
...all HCP in primary prevention of occup...
...Provide cotton glove liners for HCP...
...ropriate products. (H = High)21170...
...or routine hand hygiene, choose liqu...
...lve HCP in selection of products. (H = High...
...in and consider manufacturers’ pro...
...rm that the volume of ABHS dispensed...
...e HCP about an appropriate volume of ABHS and...
...vide facility-approved hand moisturizer that is...
...surgical antisepsis, use an FDA-approved surgical...
...e accessibility of hand hygiene supplies. (...
...ure that ABHS dispensers are unambiguous, visi...
...private rooms, consider 2 ABHS dispensers the...
...In semiprivate rooms, suites, bays, and oth...
.... Ensure that the placement of hand hy...
...e the risk of intentional consumption. Utilize di...
...ical hand rub and scrub available in perioperative...
...ider providing ABHS hand rubs or handwash wi...
...opriate glove use to reduce hand and environme...
...or all contact with the patient and environm...
...te HCP about the potential for self-contaminatio...
...immediately following glove removal. If...
...e and confirm the ability of HCP t...
...o reduce environmental contamination associa...
a. Ensure that handwashing sinks are constructed...
.... Include handwashing sinks in water infection c...
...possible, dedicate sinks to handwashing. ()21170...
...ducate HCP to refrain from disposing substances...
...United States Environmental Protection Agency (...
.... Do not keep medications or patient care...
...sposable or single-use towels to dry hands. Do not...
.... Consult with state or local public health o...
...itor adherence to hand hygiene. (H = High)21170...
...methods to measure adherence to han...
...advantages and limitations of each...
...y and meaningful feedback to enhance a culture...
...de feedback in multiple formats (e.g., ver...
...briefing unit managers as soon as possibl...
...Provide meaningful data with clear...
...al Approaches: may be considered for use in loca...
...cating HCP using a structured approach (e....
...terborne pathogens of premise plumbing,...
...stridioides difficile and norovirus,...
...at Should Not be Considered a Routine Part of...
...o not supply individual pocket-size...
...ill or “top-off ” soap dispenser...
...not use antimicrobial soaps formulated wi...
...routinely double-glove except when speci...
...ely disinfect gloves during care except when spec...
...ot remove access to ABHS when respondi...
...0. Do not attempt to remediate potent...
...nresolved Issues...
...P use of alcohol-impregnated hand wipes is...
...ications for Hand HygieneHaving trouble viewin...
...ods to Measure Hand HygieneHaving trou...
...4. Type and Timing of Feedback by Hand H...
...cs for Reporting Adherence to Hand...