Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Standard Precaution01:26

Standard Precaution

Standard precautions are the minimum infection control safeguards used while caring for all patients, irrespective of their disease condition. They help prevent the spread of common infectious microorganisms to healthcare workers, patients, and visitors in all healthcare settings.
Hand hygiene is the most crucial means to prevent the transmission of disease. Employers are legally required to provide their workers with personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimize exposure or contact with...
Hand hygiene01:23

Hand hygiene

Asepsis is the practice of preventing or breaking the chain of infection. The nurse employs aseptic techniques to prevent the spread of microorganisms and reduce the risk of diseases. Hand hygiene is the cornerstone of aseptic techniques and is classified into medical and surgical asepsis. Medical asepsis includes hand hygiene and the use of gloves. Surgical asepsis, or the sterile technique, refers to practices that render and keep objects and areas free of microorganisms.
Hand washing...
Handwashing II: Pre-procedure and Initial Procedure Steps01:19

Handwashing II: Pre-procedure and Initial Procedure Steps

The pre-procedure steps of handwashing include removing jewelry and rolling up sleeves. However, many organizations allow staff to wear wedding rings.
The hand washing procedure itself includes the following steps. First, cover cuts, if any, on hands with a waterproof dressing. Cuts and abrasions can become contaminated with bacteria hindering the ability to clean the area thoroughly. In addition, repeated hand washing can worsen an injury.  The nails must be short and clean, without nail paint...
Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures01:22

Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures

Essential infection prevention measures are based on the knowledge of the infection chain, the modes of transmission in healthcare settings, and the use of the best practices in all healthcare settings. Compulsory public reporting of healthcare-associated infection rates is needed to allow individuals and the community to make informed choices regarding selecting a healthcare facility.
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
PPE Use in Healthcare Settings I: Donning01:22

PPE Use in Healthcare Settings I: Donning

Donning PPE must be completed before contact with the patient. This process protects from infectious agents. The sequence and action included in each donning are critical, and the steps must be systematic to avoid exposure to pathogens. The institutional policy also needs to be followed while donning PPE. The pre-donning preparations are gathering equipment, inspecting the PPE equipment for tears, holes, or damage, removing jewelry, removing any garments below the elbows, and tying the hair...
Handwashing III: During the Procedure and Post-Procedure Steps01:15

Handwashing III: During the Procedure and Post-Procedure Steps

To wash hands properly, follow these steps:

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Attitudes towards infection prevention and control: an interview study with nursing students and nurse mentors.

BMJ quality & safety·2012
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 14, 2026

A Standardized Acupotomy Protocol For The Treatment of Tenosynovitis of Hand Flexor Tendons In Human Patients
07:05

A Standardized Acupotomy Protocol For The Treatment of Tenosynovitis of Hand Flexor Tendons In Human Patients

Published on: May 26, 2026

Hand adornment and infection control.

Deborah Jane Ward1

  • 1Bpas, Danum Lodge Clinic, Doncaster.

British Journal of Nursing (Mark Allen Publishing)
|June 20, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Clinical staff often wear artificial nails and jewelry, despite guidelines. This practice increases bacterial carriage and hinders effective hand hygiene, posing infection risks.

Area of Science:

  • Healthcare infection control
  • Microbiology in clinical settings

Background:

  • Infection control guidelines recommend against artificial nails, nail polish, and jewelry for clinical staff.
  • A significant proportion of healthcare workers do not adhere to these recommendations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discuss the implications of clinical staff non-adherence to infection control guidelines regarding personal adornments.
  • To explain the rationale behind recommendations against artificial nails, nail polish, and jewelry in healthcare settings.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing studies on bacterial carriage associated with artificial nails and jewelry.
  • Discussion of the contribution of these items to healthcare-associated infections.
  • Analysis of how adornments interfere with effective hand hygiene practices.

More Related Videos

Development of a Novel Internal Fixation Model for Rat Radial Fractures: Fracture Healing Assessment and Dorsal Root Ganglion Isolation
11:21

Development of a Novel Internal Fixation Model for Rat Radial Fractures: Fracture Healing Assessment and Dorsal Root Ganglion Isolation

Published on: March 13, 2026

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 14, 2026

A Standardized Acupotomy Protocol For The Treatment of Tenosynovitis of Hand Flexor Tendons In Human Patients
07:05

A Standardized Acupotomy Protocol For The Treatment of Tenosynovitis of Hand Flexor Tendons In Human Patients

Published on: May 26, 2026

Development of a Novel Internal Fixation Model for Rat Radial Fractures: Fracture Healing Assessment and Dorsal Root Ganglion Isolation
11:21

Development of a Novel Internal Fixation Model for Rat Radial Fractures: Fracture Healing Assessment and Dorsal Root Ganglion Isolation

Published on: March 13, 2026

Main Results:

  • Artificial nails, nail polish, and jewelry can harbor significant bacterial loads.
  • These items are implicated in the transmission of pathogens and contribute to infection outbreaks.
  • Adornments physically impede thorough hand washing and disinfection.

Conclusions:

  • Adherence to infection control policies regarding artificial nails, nail polish, and jewelry is crucial for patient safety.
  • Strict enforcement of guidelines is necessary to minimize bacterial carriage and prevent infections.
  • Proper hand hygiene is compromised by the presence of these items.