With the flu and cold season in our mist, your best defense against germs is WASHING YOUR HANDS!!!! Proper hand washing can be a matter of health – and maybe even life and death – for you and your clients.
Infectious microorganisms that are invisible to the naked eyes, but cause disease are Bacteria, Viruses, Parasites, Yeasts, and Fungi.
Infectious microorganisms maybe present in Blood, Other body fluids and secretions – saliva, sputum, nasal, and vaginal discharge, and excretem (waste matter generated during metabolism through urinating or defecating).
If these materials come in contact with your skin – especially your hands – you are at risk for infection. Infectious microorganisms may get on your hands when you care for an infected patient or touch a contaminated object or surface such as floors, bedpans, urinals, utility rooms, bathrooms, trash cans, invasive medical devices, and dirty laundry.
Studies have shown that healthcare workers’ hands are the most common transmitters of disease in healthcare facilities. Once your hands are contaminated, infection can enter your body if you touch your mucous membranes of your mouth, eyes, or nose; you have any open cuts, nicks, or abrasions on your skin.
You can also transfer infection to clients. Microorganisms on the skin that may be harmless to you can cause serious infections in some patients, especially the elderly; newborns; patients with weak or underdeveloped immune systems; patients with surgical incisions, catheters, breathing tubes, and other passage ways into the body.
Hand washing is the single most important procedure for preventing the spread of infection. To be effective, hand washing must include several concepts: 1) Lather hands with soap and water; 2) Vigorously rub together all surfaces of lathered hands for 10-15 seconds; 3) Rinse hands thoroughly under a stream of water; 4) Dry hands completely with a clean, dry towel. Always consider the entire sink and faucet control contaminated. To avoid further contaminating your hands—avoid splashing or touching the sink. Use a dry paper towel to turn the faucet off. Discard the used towel. To keep soap from becoming a breeding place for microorganisms, thoroughly clean soap dispensers before refilling with fresh soap or use disposable containers.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends use of waterless alcohol antiseptic hand rubs if your hands are not visibly soiled. Apply the product to the palm of one hand and rub you hands together covering all hand surfaces and fingers until hands are dry. When in doubt wash your hands.
When performing routine care activities always wash your hands before putting on gloves and immediately after removing them; before and after performing invasive procedures or touching a client’s face or mouth; after contact with wounds, secretions, mucous membranes, and blood and other bodily fluids; before caring for high-risk patients and between direct contact with different patients; if you touch blood, body fluids or secretions when caring for one patient then you should wash your hands before proceeding to another care activity for the same patient, and before eating, drinking, smoking, etc.
Hand washing is our number one defense against spreading germs. So always remember: WASH YOUR HANDS!!!!!