Dealing with Cleaning-Related Infection Control Issues Head-On

Hand Hygiene

Many infection control practitioners are concerned that proper hand hygiene measures are not in place in the medical setting. “Proper hand hygiene saves lives,” says Jim Glenn, CEO of Resurgent Health and Medical, which manufactures automated handwashing and compliance monitoring systems. “We have known this for more than 100 years, yet it still remains a problem.”

According to Glenn, this is because many medical facilities, such as the emergency room discussed earlier, simply do not have adequate or enough sinks and faucets installed. Further, doctors, nurses, and hospital staff are extremely busy, which means they often overlook properly or adequately washing their hands.

He recommends the following hand hygiene procedures in a medical facility:

• Wash hands before and after treating different patients

• Hands should also be washed repeatedly with the same patient, for instance after examining or treating different body sites on the patient

• It takes at least 30 seconds for hands to be washed and rinsed properly

• The temperature of the water should be approximately 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

“However, even this may not be enough,” says Glenn. “The skin is a dynamic structure and microorganisms can find several convenient locations, especially if hands have become dried or chapped, in which to live. This can result in increased risk in the spread of disease.”