POLICY STATEMENT
Effective hand hygiene reduces the incidence of healthcare-associated infections and is an essential component of safe patient care.
REASON FOR THIS POLICY
Effective hand hygiene reduces the incidence of healthcare-associated infections and is an essential component of safe patient care.
ENTITIES AFFECTED BY THIS POLICY
Campus Health Services
WHO SHOULD KNOW THIS POLICY
All employees of Campus Health Services
DEFINITIONS
None
POLICY
A. Indications for performing hand hygiene:
1. Before and after having any direct contact with a patient’s intact skin
2. After contact with blood, body fluids or excretions, mucous membranes, non-intact skin, or wound dressings
3. After contact with any inanimate objects (i.e., medical equipment) in the immediate vicinity of the patient
4. If hands will be moving from a contaminated body site to a clean body site during patient care
5. After removing gloves
6. After using a restroom
7. Before eating
B. Methods for hand hygiene:
1. Soap and water should be used when hands are visibly dirty, before eating, and after using the restroom.
a. Wet your hands first with water and apply soap.
b. Rub your hands vigorously for at least 15-20 seconds, covering all surfaces of the hands and fingers.
c. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a clean disposable towel.
d. Use towel to turn off faucet; do not use clean hands.
e. Avoid using very hot water to avoid drying of the skin.
2. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are the most effective products for reducing the number of germs on hands and should be used for all other situations. This is the preferred method of hand hygiene in the clinic.
a. Put product on hands and rub hands together, covering all surfaces until product is dry.
b. This should take about 20 seconds.
3. To protect your skin, you may use clinic-provided hand lotions. Personal or household products may interfere with hand sanitizing products and glove integrity.
C. Use of gloves:
1. Gloves are NOT a substitute for proper hand hygiene.
2. ALWAYS clean your hands after removing gloves.
3. Choose the right size of glove.
4. Gloves should be worn when contact is anticipated with non-intact skin, open wounds, mucous membranes, or bodily fluids.
5. Change gloves if moving from a contaminated body-site to a clean site when preforming patient care.
6. Remove gloves after performing patient care and dispose of properly in a trash receptacle.
7. Change gloves between patients.
D. Fingernails and Jewelry:
1. Artificial nails are not recommended for those having direct patient contact as these can harbor germs.
2. Natural nails should be kept short; less than ¼ inch long.
3. Rings should be avoided as the skin underneath them has been shown to harbor germs; however, a simple band is acceptable if hand hygiene is properly practiced.
E. All Campus Health Services staff having direct patient contact are required to complete annual training (as determined by the Director of Nursing and Medical Director) in proper hand hygiene.
RESPONSIBILITIES
All employees of Campus Health Services
PROCEDURES
There are no procedures associated with this policy.
RELATED INFORMATION
Forms or Tools
There are no forms or tools associated with this policy.
Cross-References
There are no cross-references associated with this policy.
Sources
https://www.cdc.gov/handhygiene/providers/index.html
APPENDIX
None