Importance of Hand Hygiene

Hand hygiene is the most important and effective procedure for the prevention and infection control. In the care of sick people hands are a vehicle of transmission of agents pathogens, either by direct contact from person to person, or indirectly through contaminated objects previously that subsequently contaminate the patient. Hand hygiene is a very simple action, and must be practiced by any person who perform patient care, whether personal health carers. Despite being the single most important to reduce the incidence of infection and spread of microorganisms, compliance standards of hygiene is very low.
SKIN
Is a structure that is a protective barrier between the external environment and the body preventing the passage of germs inside.
The normal flora of the skin can be:
• Transient flora: Consisting microorganisms that colonize the superficial layer of the skin to which they adhere upon contact with patients or contaminated surfaces.
• Flora resident: Formed by microorganisms that survive and multiplying in the deeper layers of the skin, and although are less related to the infection, they are difficult to remove by washing hands.
Soap and water usually are sufficient to eliminate transient flora. However, to eliminate permanent flora, necessary for wound management and in the care of patients in certain cases, it is necessary to use instant hand sanitizers.
PURPOSE OF HAND WASHING:
• Reduce pollution hands and prevent the spread of pathogens to uncontaminated areas.
• Preventing transmission infections in the health system.
WASH HANDS WHEN:
General indications for handwashing and using hand sanitizer are as follows:
Before:
• Starting the working day at the health center.
• Touching any patient (especially in direct contact with patients able to infections) to protect pathogens that we have in hand.
• Performing invasive procedures or any task that requires asepsis, even when using gloves, as placing probes urinary catheters, peripheral catheters or other ways devices.
• Food preparation or medication.


After:
• The exposure of hands blood or other body fluids, mucosa, a non-intact skin and wound dressings, or after touching objects potentially contaminaos or objects in the vicinity of the patient, touching contaminated material secretions, although hands are apparently clean.
• Making contact with intact skin of a patient (e.g. taking the pulse or blood pressure, raise the patient, etc.). or environment.
• Back in the dining room.
• End of workday in a hospital.
• Protect the patient, health workers and caregivers.