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Going Dotty: a practical guide for installing new hand hygiene products
Kathryn Bush1, Manuel W Mah, Gwyneth Meyers
1Infection Prevention and Control Program, Calgary Health Region, Calgary, AB, Canada. kathryn.bush@calgaryhealthregion.ca
American Journal of Infection Control
|December 8, 2007
Summary
Coordinating a new hand hygiene product installation requires collaboration and careful management. Key factors for success include stakeholder engagement, preventing occupational hand dermatitis, and strong communication strategies for infection control professionals.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Management
- Infection Prevention and Control
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Large-scale implementation of new products in healthcare settings presents unique logistical and clinical challenges.
- Effective hand hygiene is a cornerstone of infection prevention and control strategies within integrated health care systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a practical guide for infection control professionals based on experiences coordinating a new commercial hand hygiene product line installation.
- To highlight critical considerations for managing large-scale product implementations in healthcare.
Main Methods:
- Distillation of practical experiences from coordinating a commercial hand hygiene product installation.
- Identification of key factors influencing the success of the implementation process.
Main Results:
- Successful coordination necessitates robust stakeholder collaboration across multiple departments.
- Proactive management of occupational hand dermatitis is crucial for staff well-being and compliance.
- Effective housekeeping support and clear communication channels are vital for seamless integration.
Conclusions:
- A systematic approach addressing stakeholder engagement, occupational health, and communication is essential for large-scale hand hygiene product installations.
- This guide offers valuable insights for infection control professionals undertaking similar projects to enhance patient safety and operational efficiency.
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01:18Handwashing I: Introduction and Types of Equipment
Handwashing is hand hygiene with plain or antimicrobial soap and water to physically remove dirt, organic material, and microorganisms. However, it may not kill all microorganisms. The handwashing procedure requires a hand wash basin, liquid soap, paper towels, a domestic waste bin, and disposable nail cleaner as optional equipment.
Hand wash basins in clinical areas should have faucets that can be turned on and off without using the hands; that is, they should be non-touch or lever-operated.
Hand wash basins in clinical areas should have faucets that can be turned on and off without using the hands; that is, they should be non-touch or lever-operated.
01:15Handwashing III: During the Procedure and Post-Procedure Steps
To wash hands properly, follow these steps:
01:19Handwashing 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...
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01:23Hand 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.
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Hand washing...
01:10PPE Use in Healthcare Settings II: Doffing
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01:26Standard 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.
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