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Related Concept Videos

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...
Handwashing I: Introduction and Types of Equipment01:18

Handwashing 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.
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:
Cleaning, Sterilization, and Disinfection01:30

Cleaning, Sterilization, and Disinfection

Cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization are the methods that help to break the infection chain and prevent disease.
Cleaning
The cleaning process usually involves using water with detergents or enzymatic cleaner and removing foreign material from objects and surfaces, including organic material such as body fluids or inorganic material like soil. Cleaning is performed before high-level disinfection and sterilization because foreign materials on the cover of the devices interfere with process...
Asepsis01:28

Asepsis

The condition of being free from disease-causing living pathogens is asepsis. Aseptic techniques include a set of standard practices to achieve asepsis. An example is the regular environmental cleaning of all parts of the healthcare facility and hand hygiene at home before preparing or eating food. Medical and surgical asepsis in healthcare practice protects patients from harmful pathogens, minimizes the risk of contamination of susceptible sites, and reduces the risk of infection transmission.

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Vascularized Composite Hand Allograft Procurement and Preparation for Distal and Proximal Forearm Allotransplantation: A Stepwise Approach
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Surgical hand preparation: state-of-the-art.

A F Widmer1, M Rotter, A Voss

  • 1Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.

The Journal of Hospital Infection
|September 1, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Alcohol-based hand rubs are recommended for surgical hand preparation over medicated soaps. They offer rapid action, a broader spectrum of activity, and fewer side effects, enhancing surgical site infection prevention.

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Area of Science:

  • Infection Control
  • Surgical Hygiene
  • Antimicrobial Agents

Background:

  • Surgical hand preparation is a critical measure to prevent surgical site infections, established since the 19th century.
  • Current practices involve medicated soaps and hand rubs, with varying product selection criteria.
  • Evidence and objectives guiding surgical hand preparation require ongoing review.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the evidence and objectives of surgical hand preparation.
  • To compare product selection criteria and validation procedures in North America and Europe.
  • To evaluate alcohol-based hand rubs versus medicated soaps for surgical antisepsis.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative review of existing literature and guidelines.
  • Analysis of test and validation procedures for hand preparation products.
  • Discussion of technical aspects, efficacy, and safety of different antisepsis formulations.

Main Results:

  • Alcohol-based hand rubs demonstrate rapid antimicrobial action and a wider spectrum of activity compared to medicated soaps.
  • Medicated soaps pose a risk of hand contamination from rinsing water.
  • Brushes are not recommended for surgical hand preparation.

Conclusions:

  • Alcohol-based hand rubs are favored for surgical hand preparation due to superior efficacy and safety profiles.
  • The use of alcohol-based hand rubs is advantageous, even in resource-limited settings with water scarcity.
  • Optimizing surgical hand antisepsis is crucial for reducing surgical site infections.