Moments for hand hygiene in Material and Sterilization Center

to characterize the moments when there is a need for hand hygiene (HH) by employees who work in Material and Sterilization Center (MSC).

we conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study in the MSC of a large hospital, from July to November 2012, in Goiânia, state of Goiás, Brazil. Data obtained through observation of workers, following a previously evaluated and tested checklist.

to the dirty area, standardized moments of HH were enough. In the clean area, "Extra moments with indication" for HH, resulting from the work process, such as: after disinfecting benches, after verification and inventory of consigned products, before assembling boxes/trays, before loading and unloading the autoclave, before handling and distributing health care products, among others, were necessary.

the moments of HH in the dirty area coincide with indications of the clinical practice; and, in the clean area, characteristic moments of the work process were captured.