HAND HYGIENE

Course overview

HANDWASHING PRACTICES IN THE PATIENT CARE SETTING BEGAN IN THE EARLY 19TH CENTURY. THE PRACTICE EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS WITH EVIDENTIAL PROOF OF ITS VAST IMPORTANCE AND COUPLED WITH OTHER HAND-HYGIENIC PRACTICES, DECREASED PATHOGENS RESPONSIBLE FOR NOSOCOMIAL OR HOSPITAL-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS (HAI). CONTAMINATED HANDS OF HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ARE A PRIMARY SOURCE OF PATHOGENIC SPREAD. PROPER HAND HYGIENE DECREASES THE PROLIFERATION OF MICROORGANISMS, THUS REDUCING INFECTION RISK AND OVERALL HEALTHCARE COSTS, LENGTH OF STAYS, AND ULTIMATELY, REIMBURSEMENT. ACCORDING TO THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC), HAND HYGIENE IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT PRACTICE IN THE REDUCTION OF THE TRANSMISSION OF INFECTION IN HEALTHCARE SETTINGS. THIS ACTIVITY ILLUSTRATES THE IMPORTANCE OF HANDWASHING AND HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN EDUCATING PATIENTS ABOUT PREVENTING INFECTIONS AND IMPROVING OUTCOMES BY REMEMBERING TO WASH HANDS FREQUENTLY.