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

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:
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.
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...
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...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

How aseptic is aseptic technique conducted by nurses outside the operating room environment? A critical review.

The Journal of hospital infection·2026
Same author

Is there consensus for the aims of aseptic technique undertaken by nurses outside operating theatres? Delphi survey with follow-up study day.

The Journal of hospital infection·2026
Same author

Success of the CLEEN study.

The Lancet. Infectious diseases·2024
Same author

Undertaking qualitative reviews in nursing and education - A method of thematic analysis for students and clinicians.

International journal of nursing studies advances·2024
Same author

Aseptic versus clean technique during wound management? Systematic review with meta-analysis.

International journal of environmental health research·2023
Same author

Face mask use to prevent COVID-19 in clinical practice. Using a review of reviews to improve decision-making and transparency.

Journal of advanced nursing·2023
Same journal

Young onset dementia: enhancing the diagnostic process and post-diagnosis support.

Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987)·2026
Same journal

Effect of artificial intelligence on nursing documentation and patient safety.

Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987)·2026
Same journal

Strategies for responding to anger from patients, relatives and carers.

Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987)·2026
Same journal

Nurses' role in detecting early and subtle signs of patient deterioration in acute hospitals.

Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987)·2026
Same journal

Pulse oximetry: exploring its role, limitations and challenges in clinical practice.

Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987)·2026
Same journal

Anorexia nervosa: identification and management by non-specialist nurses.

Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987)·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 8, 2026

A Method to Test the Efficacy of Handwashing for the Removal of Emerging Infectious Pathogens
09:02

A Method to Test the Efficacy of Handwashing for the Removal of Emerging Infectious Pathogens

Published on: June 7, 2017

Auditing hand hygiene practice.

Dinah Gould1

  • 1School of Community and Health Studies, City University, London. d.gould@city.ac.uk

Nursing Standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987)
|October 19, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Effective hand hygiene audits are crucial for preventing healthcare-associated infections. Understanding the principles of these audits helps healthcare professionals improve practice and allows others to interpret findings.

More Related Videos

Microbial Control and Monitoring Strategies for Cleanroom Environments and Cellular Therapies
09:30

Microbial Control and Monitoring Strategies for Cleanroom Environments and Cellular Therapies

Published on: March 17, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 8, 2026

A Method to Test the Efficacy of Handwashing for the Removal of Emerging Infectious Pathogens
09:02

A Method to Test the Efficacy of Handwashing for the Removal of Emerging Infectious Pathogens

Published on: June 7, 2017

Microbial Control and Monitoring Strategies for Cleanroom Environments and Cellular Therapies
09:30

Microbial Control and Monitoring Strategies for Cleanroom Environments and Cellular Therapies

Published on: March 17, 2023

Area of Science:

  • Infection Prevention and Control
  • Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

  • Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a significant concern in clinical settings.
  • Hand hygiene is the primary method for preventing HAIs.
  • Hand hygiene audits are routinely performed by infection prevention and control teams.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To underscore the importance of hand hygiene audits in healthcare.
  • To highlight the necessity of careful planning and execution for effective audits.
  • To educate healthcare professionals on the principles of hand hygiene auditing.

Main Methods:

  • Audits involve direct observation of hand hygiene practices.
  • Data collection on adherence to protocols.
  • Analysis of audit findings to identify areas for improvement.

Main Results:

  • Properly conducted audits are essential for accurate assessment of hand hygiene compliance.
  • Understanding audit principles enhances the effectiveness of infection prevention strategies.
  • Audit results provide valuable insights for improving healthcare practices.

Conclusions:

  • Hand hygiene audits are fundamental to reducing healthcare-associated infections.
  • Healthcare professionals must grasp the core principles of effective hand hygiene audits.
  • Improved understanding and practice of hand hygiene audits benefit patient safety and public health.