Hand Hygiene Procedure for Healthcare Facilities

Hand Hygiene Procedure for Healthcare Facilities

The Purpose of hand hygiene is to reduce the risk of infection and cross-contamination by ensuring proper hand hygiene practices among healthcare workers.

• Preventing the spread of microorganisms to patient.

• Reducing the risk of healthcare workers acquiring infections from patients

• Minimizing hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), associated morbidity, mortality, and treatment costs

When to Perform Hand Hygiene

• Hand hygiene should be performed:

• At the start and end of duty

• When hands are visibly dirty, soiled with blood, body fluids, or protein-rich material

• Before and after patient contact, even when wearing gloves

• Before invasive procedures, even with sterile gloves

• Before handling medical devices, such as catheters and IV lines

• Moving from a polluted region to a clean area on the same patient.

• After contact with a patient’s skin, mucous membranes, wounds, or dressings

• After contact with patient's surroundings or medical equipment

• After removing gloves

• Prior to (Before) eating or drinking, and after using the restroom

General Hand Hygiene Guidelines

Keep your nails short and clean, and do not use artificial nails or nail polish. Remove all rings, bracelets, and other hand ornaments before starting your duty. Always remember to follow the WHO 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene to prevent the spread of infection and keep everyone safe.

1. Before touching a patient
2. Before a clean/aseptic procedure
3. After body fluid exposure risk
4. After touching a patient
5. After touching patient surroundings

Hand Hygiene Techniques

Using Alcohol-Based Hand Rub

1. Apply enough sanitizer to cover both hand surfaces.

2. Rub palms to palms together.

3. Interlock fingers and rub between them. (Both Hand)

4. Rub backs of fingers against palms.

5. Rotate thumbs and fingertips in the opposite palm step by step.

6. Continue rubbing until dry (about 20–30 seconds).

Using Soap and Water

1. Wet hands with water proper manner.

2. Apply soap and lather well.

3. Rub palms together and between fingers.

4. Clean backs of hands and thumbs.

5. Rinse thoroughly.

6. Dry hands with a single-use towel.

7. Use the towel to turn off the faucet.

Surgical Handwash – Step-by-Step

Objective: Remove transient microorganisms and reduce resident flora on hands and forearms before surgery.

Scope: Applies to all surgical and assisting staff.
Responsibility: Surgeons, scrub nurses, assisting nurses.

Required Items:

• Surgical scrub solution (chlorhexidine or povidone iodine).

• Sterile scrub brush and nail cleaner.

• Sterile towel.

• Surgical mask, cap, disposable apron, and shoe covers.

Procedure:

1. Remove all jewelry and keep nails short, with no cuts or abrasions.

2. Stand in front of the sink without touching it.

3. Adjust water to a comfortable temperature.

4. Wet hands and arms up to 5 cm above the elbow.

5. Apply scrub solution and scrub fingers, web spaces, palms, and backs of hands.

6. Divide the arm into sections and scrub each from hand to above the elbow (30 strokes per section).

7. Rinse thoroughly, keeping hands above the elbows.

8. Dry with a sterile towel, starting from the hand and moving to the elbow. Do not retrace dried areas.

9. Keep hands elevated and away from the body before donning sterile gloves.

Action Plan for Low Compliance

• If compliance is below 75%, the following steps should be taken:
• Conduct monthly hand hygiene audits
• Provide training and education sessions for staff
• Ensure availability of hand rubs, soaps, and sinks in all clinical areas

Share reports with the Infection Control Committee (ICC)

Hand hygiene is the most effective way to prevent healthcare-associated infections. All staff must strictly follow this policy to ensure patient safety and maintain hospital standards as per NABH and WHO guidelines.