The document discusses proper hand washing techniques to prevent the spread of infection. It notes that hands can be colonized by pathogens from patients and that proper hand washing with soap and water for 30 seconds removes most transient microbes. If soap and water are unavailable, a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can help reduce microbes. Global Hand Washing Day is observed annually to promote increased awareness about the importance of hand hygiene in healthcare settings and everyday life.
3. Normal flora of hands
• There are two types of microbes
colonizing hands: the resident
flora, which consists of
microorganisms residing under
the superficial cells of the
stratum corneum and the
transient flora, which colonizes
the superficial layers of the skin,
and is more amenable to removal
by routine hand hygiene
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 3
4. Colonization of hands with pathogens and
their role in transmission
•The hands of HCWs are commonly colonized with pathogens
like methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA), vancomycin
resistant Enterococcus (VRE), MDR-Gram Negative bacteria
(GNBs), Candida spp. and Clostridium difficle, which can
survive for as long as 150 h. Approximately 106 skin epithelial
cells containing viable microorganisms are shed daily from
the normal skin, which can contaminate the gowns, bed
linen, bedside furniture, and other objects in the patient's
immediate environment
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 4
5. Aim of hand washing
•The aim of hand washing is to remove microorganisms from
the hands, preventing their potential transfer. It is known
that organisms survive and multiply on human hands,
creating the opportunity to infect others or the host.6 Hand
washing reduces the number of transient organisms on the
skin surface. Although hands cannot be sterilized, most
transient organisms can be removed by 30 seconds of
proper scrubbing with soap and water.
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 5
6. Hundreds of millions are Manifested
with Health Care Associated Infections
• Each year, hundreds of
millions of patients around
the world are affected by
health care-associated
infections (HCAIs). Although
HCAI is the most frequent
adverse event in health care,
its true global burden
remains unknown because of
the difficulty in gathering
reliable data.
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 6
7. HandWashing prevent spread of
Infections
•Keeping hands
clean is one of the
best ways to
prevent the spread
of infection and
illness.
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 7
9. Clean hands can stop spread of germs
• Hand washing is easy to do
and it's one of the most
effective ways to prevent
the spread of many types of
infection and illness in all
settings—from your home
and workplace to child care
facilities and hospitals.
Clean hands can stop germs
from spreading from one
person to another and
throughout an entire
community.Dr.T.V.Rao MD 9
10. Learn more about when and
how to wash your hands.
• Before, during, and after preparing food
• Before eating food
• Before and after caring for someone who is sick
• Before and after treating a cut or wound
• After using the toilet
• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
• After touching garbage Dr.T.V.Rao MD 10
11. What is the right way to wash your
hands?
•Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn
off the tap, and apply soap.
•Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be
sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers,
and under your nails.
•Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Rinse your hands well
under clean, running water.
•Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 11
12. What should you do if you don't have
soap and clean, running water?
• Washing hands with soap and
water is the best way to reduce
the number of microbes on them
in most situations. If soap and
water are not available, use an
alcohol-based hand sanitizer that
contains at least 60% alcohol.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can
quickly reduce the number of
microbes on hands in some
situations, but sanitizers do not
eliminate all types of germs.
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 12
13. Hand sanitizers may not be as effective
when hands are visibly dirty or greasy.
•How do you use hand
sanitizers?
•Apply the product to the
palm of one hand (read the
label to learn the correct
amount).
•Rub your hands together.
•Rub the product over all
surfaces of your hands and
fingers until your hands are
dry.
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 13
15. Did you know ?
1 in 5 People Don'tWashTheir Hands
•Did you know that 1 in 5 people don't wash their hands
and of those that do only 30% use soap. The CDC
recommends 15-20 seconds of vigorous hand washing
with soap and water to effectively kill germs, but only
about 5% of people wash their hands for 15-seconds or
more. The result - fecal matter including bacteria such
as E. coli can be found on just over a quarter of our hands
according to a new study by hygiene experts from
Queen Mary University of London
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 15
16. Global Hand Washing Day (October 15th)
• Over the past five years, Global
HandWashing Day has grown
from a one-day celebration in a
few cities to a worldwide
movement. Events include an
attempt to set a record for the
most people washing their
hands at the same time and a
microbiological investigation
into the hygienic nature of
currency.
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 16
17. As Posted by Dr Pierre GRASCHA
•Only 1 out of 5 people do not wash hands. Based on my own
observations, I think that the reality is unfortunately worse than
that. 2 in 5 or 3 in 5 is probably a more realistic figure.
•The only way to sort this problem out is to educate people as early
age as possible.When I was a child, we used to have moral
education courses every morning but nothing about the basics of
hygiene.Today we know enough about microbiological risks in
relation with lack of hygiene; then why hygiene is not
systematically explained to kids in primary schools?
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 17
18. PaperTowels or Hot Air Dryers -
Which is Better & Why?•The study revealed, "from a hygiene viewpoint,
paper towels are superior to electronic air dryers"
and "drying hands thoroughly with single-use,
disposable paper towels is the preferred method of
hand drying." It concluded by recommending, "The
provision of paper towels should be considered as a
means of improving hand hygiene adherence."
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 18
19. What is the best way toWash Hands
•Multiple studies indicate that in addition to surfactant
action, friction (good old fashioned elbow grease) at the
rinsing stage is perhaps the most critical period of hand
washing in its ability to dislodge viruses from skin surfaces.
you only have so many highly aggressive hand washings
(hand washing events) a day to remove viruses before hands
begin to dry out and become sore, even when using the
gentlest of soaps.
•
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 19
20. What is the Role of MedicalTeachers
• The important aspect of role
models for students, whose
adherence is strongly influenced
by their mentor's attitude at
bed side should be exploited in
moulding the behaviour of
young medical students. A few
lectures in the undergraduate
curriculum may prime the
medical students to this basic
necessity.
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 20
22. What we Need in many Hospitals
• Hand washing should become an educational priority.
Educational interventions for medical students should provide
clear evidence that HCWs hands become grossly contaminated
with pathogens upon patient contact and that alcohol hand rubs
are the easiest and most effective means of decontaminating
hands and thereby reducing the rates of HAIs. Increasing the
emphasis on infection control, giving the charge of infection
control to senior organizational members, changing the
paradigm of surveillance to continuous monitoring and effective
data feedback are some of the important measures which need
to be initiated in Indian hospitals.
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 22
23. Global Hand Washing Day on
Social Networking
•Global Hand Washing Day will also be celebrated virtually
onTwitter and Facebook with the #iwashmyhands hashtag.
Twitter users are encouraged to tweet #iwashmyhands to
help raise awareness about the importance of hand
washing correctly with soap. There is also an interactive
social media game available at
http://globalhandwashing.org/ghw which educates players
about hygiene and allows them to share.
Dr.T.V.Rao MD 23