Healthcare-associated infection prevention

-Automatic translation

Quality research on hand cleaning has proven that hand washing and hand disinfection with an alcohol-based agent are the most effective methods for breaking transmission lines and preventing infections.

It is essential that all healthcare workers keep this in mind and wash their hands thoroughly or use hand sanitiser before and after contact with persons receiving the service or after their hands have been contaminated.

The Chief Epidemiologist and the World Health Organization (WHO) encourage health professionals to:

Wash hands with soap and water when:

• they are visibly dirty or contaminated with protein material

• they are visibly contaminated with blood or other bodily fluids

• have been exposed to bacterial contamination

• after going to the toilet
  

In the following working conditions, it is preferable to use a disinfectant with alcohol for hand cleaning when hands are not visibly dirty (if so, they should be washed with soap and water).

• Before and after direct contact with patients

• After removing the gloves

• Before handling instruments intended for interventions in the treatment of patients (regardless of whether gloves are used or not)

• After contact with body fluids, mucous membranes, broken s, kin or wound dressings

• When touching clean areas of the body after touching contaminated areas during patient care

• After contact with objects in the patient's environment

• Wash hands with soap and water and clean them with an alcohol-based hand sanitiser before handling medications or preparing food.
  

Things to keep in mind when cleaning your hands:

• Before starting, the jewellery, e.g., rings, bracelets, and wristwatches, should be removed from the hands.

• Please make sure to dry your hands thoroughly.

• Be careful not to re-contaminate hands after hand washing.

• If there is a wound on the skin of the hands, it must be covered with a bandage, which must be renewed as needed, e.g. when they get wet. E.g. gloves must be used when working.
  

Alcohol solutions disinfection/hand sanitiser:

• ethanol in 60-80% strength

• isopropanol

• n-propanol