Hand WashingHand WashingCDC GuidelinesCDC Guidelines

For For Effective Hand WashingEffective Hand Washing

““hand washing is the single most hand washing is the single most important procedure for preventing the important procedure for preventing the

spread of infection”spread of infection”

Effective Hand WashingEffective Hand Washing• Turn on the water (avoid using Turn on the water (avoid using hot hot

water) and use a generous amount of soapwater) and use a generous amount of soap• Lather soap and scrub palms and backs of Lather soap and scrub palms and backs of

hands for at least 15-20 secondshands for at least 15-20 seconds• Be sure to wash wrists, in between fingers Be sure to wash wrists, in between fingers

and under fingernailsand under fingernails• Rinse soap off handsRinse soap off hands• Dry hands thoroughly with paper towel or Dry hands thoroughly with paper towel or

forced warm airforced warm air• Turn off faucet with paper towelTurn off faucet with paper towel

Wash Your HandsWash Your Hands• Before eating or preparing/serving foodBefore eating or preparing/serving food• After using the bathroomAfter using the bathroom• After smokingAfter smoking• After playing outsideAfter playing outside• After handling petsAfter handling pets• Before and after touching someone who is sickBefore and after touching someone who is sick• Before and after performing invasive proceduresBefore and after performing invasive procedures• Before and after wound careBefore and after wound care• After handling garbage, dirty equipment, dirty utensilsAfter handling garbage, dirty equipment, dirty utensils• After removing gloves and between patient care and After removing gloves and between patient care and

before changing tasksbefore changing tasks• After blowing your nose, sneezing, coughing, touching After blowing your nose, sneezing, coughing, touching

your hair, face, clothing, eatingyour hair, face, clothing, eating• After touching contaminated surfacesAfter touching contaminated surfaces

Waterless Hand CleaningWaterless Hand Cleaning• When using an alcohol-based hand When using an alcohol-based hand

rub, apply product (3-5 mL) to palm rub, apply product (3-5 mL) to palm of one hand and rub hands together, of one hand and rub hands together, covering all surfaces of hands and covering all surfaces of hands and fingers until hands are dry.fingers until hands are dry.

• If hands are visibly soiled, wash them If hands are visibly soiled, wash them with soap and water first, dry them, with soap and water first, dry them, then apply waterless product as then apply waterless product as described.described.

Cleaning AgentsCleaning Agents• Use regular soap, preferably from a pump dispenser. If bar Use regular soap, preferably from a pump dispenser. If bar

soaps are used, they should be small and kept in a drainage soaps are used, they should be small and kept in a drainage rack. Antibacterial soap isn’t necessary and may contribute to rack. Antibacterial soap isn’t necessary and may contribute to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.

• Allergic contact dermatitis due to alcohol rubs is very Allergic contact dermatitis due to alcohol rubs is very uncommon, but with increasing use of such products it is likely uncommon, but with increasing use of such products it is likely that true allergic reactions will occasionally be encountered.that true allergic reactions will occasionally be encountered.

• Alcohol-based hand rubs take less time to use than traditional Alcohol-based hand rubs take less time to use than traditional hand washing.hand washing.

• Antimicrobial-impregnated towelettes are not as effective as Antimicrobial-impregnated towelettes are not as effective as washing with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand washing with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rubs. rubs.

• Wash hands with non-antimicrobial soap and water or with Wash hands with non-antimicrobial soap and water or with antimicrobial soap and water if exposure to antimicrobial soap and water if exposure to Bacillus anthracisBacillus anthracis is suspected or proven. is suspected or proven. The physical action of washing and The physical action of washing and rinsing hands is recommended because alcohols, rinsing hands is recommended because alcohols, chlorhexidine, iodophors and other antiseptic agents chlorhexidine, iodophors and other antiseptic agents have poor activity against spores.have poor activity against spores.

Statistics for Hand Washing Statistics for Hand Washing EfficacyEfficacy

• Nearly 22 million school days are lost annually due to Nearly 22 million school days are lost annually due to the common coldthe common cold

• One study involving Detroit school children showed One study involving Detroit school children showed that scheduled hand washing, at least 4 times a day, that scheduled hand washing, at least 4 times a day, can reduce gastrointestinal illness and related can reduce gastrointestinal illness and related absences by more than 50%absences by more than 50%

• 76 Million people get diarrhea and upset stomachs 76 Million people get diarrhea and upset stomachs from improper hand hygiene every yearfrom improper hand hygiene every year

• Diarrhea is second only to the common cold as a cause Diarrhea is second only to the common cold as a cause of lost working time, with about 25 days lost from work of lost working time, with about 25 days lost from work or school each year for every 100 Americansor school each year for every 100 Americans

• 325,000 people will be hospitalized as a result of 325,000 people will be hospitalized as a result of improper hand hygieneimproper hand hygiene

• 5,000 unnecessary deaths are related to improper 5,000 unnecessary deaths are related to improper hand hygienehand hygiene

Incentives for Hand Incentives for Hand WashingWashing

ReferencesReferences• Power Point presentation by Lydia BartlettPower Point presentation by Lydia Bartlett• School Network for Absenteeism Prevention. (2003). Clean hand statistics. School Network for Absenteeism Prevention. (2003). Clean hand statistics.

Retrieved from http://www.itsasnap.org/snap/statistics.aspRetrieved from http://www.itsasnap.org/snap/statistics.asp• Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and

Immunization. (2004). Did you wash your hands? Retrieved October 5, 2005 Immunization. (2004). Did you wash your hands? Retrieved October 5, 2005 from www.gov/handwashingfrom www.gov/handwashing

• Massachusetts Medical Society. (2001). Good health is in your hands. Retrieved Massachusetts Medical Society. (2001). Good health is in your hands. Retrieved September 16, 2005 from September 16, 2005 from www.massmed.org/

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (1985). Guideline for handwashing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (1985). Guideline for handwashing and hospital environmental control. Retrieved September 16, 2005 from and hospital environmental control. Retrieved September 16, 2005 from www.phppo.cdc.govwww.phppo.cdc.gov

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2002). Guideline for hand hygiene Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2002). Guideline for hand hygiene in healthcare settings. Retrieved September 16, 2005 from www.cdc.govin healthcare settings. Retrieved September 16, 2005 from www.cdc.gov

• Barrs, A. (n.d.). Handwashing: Breaking the chain of infection. Retrieved Barrs, A. (n.d.). Handwashing: Breaking the chain of infection. Retrieved October 6, 2005 from www.infectioncontroltoday.comOctober 6, 2005 from www.infectioncontroltoday.com

• Massachusetts Department of Public Health. (2002). Handwashing fact sheet-Massachusetts Department of Public Health. (2002). Handwashing fact sheet-English. Retrieved October 6, 2005 from English. Retrieved October 6, 2005 from www.mass.gov.dph/cdc/handwashing

• Centers for Disease Control. (2002). An ounce of prevention keeps the germs Centers for Disease Control. (2002). An ounce of prevention keeps the germs away. Retrieved September 16, 2005 from away. Retrieved September 16, 2005 from www.cdc.gov/ncidod/op/handwashing.htmwww.cdc.gov/ncidod/op/handwashing.htm

• Massachusetts Department of Public Health. (2004). Public health information Massachusetts Department of Public Health. (2004). Public health information sheet: Hand hygiene. Retrieved October 6, 2005 from www.state.ma.us/dphsheet: Hand hygiene. Retrieved October 6, 2005 from www.state.ma.us/dph