Today, hand hygiene is described by many healthcare workers as one of the most important steps in preventing the spread of healthcare-associated infections between patients and workers.
In 2009 the World Health Organisation (WHO) introduced the ‘5 Moments of Hand Hygiene’ in an attempt to reduce the burden of healthcare associated infections.
Moment 1 – Before Touching A Patient
WHEN: Perform hand hygiene on entering the patient’s zone before touching the patient
WHY: To protect the patient against acquiring harmful germs from the hands of the healthcare worker
Moment 2 – Before A Procedure
WHEN: Immediately before a procedure. Once hand hygiene has been performed, nothing else in the patient’s environment should be touched prior to the procedure starting.
WHY: To protect the patient from potential pathogens (including their own) from entering their body during a procedure.
Moment 3 – After A Procedure or Body Fluid Exposure Risk
WHEN: Hand hygiene immediately after a procedure or body fluid exposure risk as hands could be contaminated with body fluid. Even if you have had gloves on you should still perform hand hygiene after removing them as gloves are not always a complete impermeable barrier. Hands may also have been contaminated in the process of removing the gloves.
WHY: To protect yourself and the healthcare surroundings from becoming contaminated with potential pathogens.
Moment 4 – After Touching A Patient
WHEN: Hand hygiene after touching a patient. Perform hand hygiene before you leave the patient zone.
WHY: To protect yourself and the healthcare surroundings from becoming contaminated with potential pathogens.
Moment 5 – After Touching A Patient’s Surroundings
WHEN: Hand hygiene after touching a patient’s surroundings even when the patient has not been touched. Always hand hygiene before leaving the room.
WHY: To protect yourself and the healthcare surroundings from becoming contaminated with microorganisms.
Handwashing is a simple and small task, but vital to help improve the chances of you, your patients and residents remaining illness-free. If water is not available a high-quality sanitiser can be used, while the ideal hygiene solution is a combination of handwashing followed by a sanitiser.
The Hair & Body Wash is a rich, creamy all over foam body wash with a pleasant ripe fig and honey fragrance. It contains emollients, rinses away easily and is hard water compatible.
When looking for a Hand Wash ensure it has been blended to be tough on dirt and grime but soft on hands. It should be formulated from a combination of surfactants, emollients and moisturisers to provide gentle cleaning that supports healthy skin.
An Antibac Handwash will provide a heavy duty, solvent free hand cleaner. It should be formulated from a combination of surfactants, emollients and moisturisers to provide gentle cleaning that supports healthy skin where degreasing is carried out frequently.
Kwikmaster Professional’s new range of foam soaps and sanitisers helps ensure health and hygiene practices are easily maintained. Investing in high quality soaps and sanitisers is a great step to defending against germs and infections.
