The impact of hand hygiene in healthcare cannot be overstated. It’s not just a routine; it’s a frontline defense that protects both patients and healthcare workers. As the cornerstone of infection prevention, adopting the right practices is key to reducing healthcare-associated infections. By following these top tips, you can overcome common challenges and achieve excellence in hand hygiene within your healthcare facility.

1. Ensure you spend enough time on hand hygiene 
When it comes to hand hygiene for infection control, time really matters. Make sure you follow CDC guidelines by using hand sanitizer or washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. This simple step is your fundamental defense, ensuring your hands are free from pathogens and reducing the risk of transmission.

2. Pay attention to key areas during hand hygiene 
Ensure thorough cleaning of areas such as the nails, cuticles, palms, thumbs, and the spaces between the fingers. Taking the time to clean these tricky spots helps eliminate germs from commonly missed areas and promotes more effective infection prevention.

3. Maintain a routine of frequent hand hygiene 
Wash your hands often, especially after touching things like bed rails, medical equipment, or bedside tables. This simple yet essential practice plays a vital role in preventing the spread of germs from contaminated surfaces, helping protect other patients and healthcare environments.

4. Practice hand hygiene at critical times 
Always perform hand hygiene after exposure to body fluids, such as during wound care or handling soiled instruments. These critical moments call for unwavering attention to hygiene. Adhering to this practice during such moments demonstrates the profound impact of hand hygiene in healthcare, protecting patients and safeguarding your facility’s reputation and commitment to infection prevention.

5. Maintain nail hygiene 
Make sure to wash under your nails thoroughly and keep them neatly trimmed. Steer clear of artificial nails, as they can trap bacteria and germs, increasing the risk of infection spread in clinical settings.

6. Use the right products 
When it comes to hand hygiene in healthcare, not all products are created equal. Always use soaps and hand sanitizers that are specifically formulated for healthcare settings rather than consumer products. These products meet rigorous healthcare standards and work seamlessly with other essentials like gloves and lotions.

7. Prioritize skin health in hand hygiene practices 
Frequent hand hygiene is essential, but it can dry out and irritate your skin. Use hospital-approved lotions to keep your skin healthy and intact, because healthy skin means you can stick to your hand hygiene routine. This supports the implementation of a consistent and effective program for hand hygiene.

8. Perform hand hygiene with glove usage 
While gloves provide a barrier between germs and the skin, they are not a substitute for hand hygiene. Know when to wear them but always remember to perform hand hygiene before and after glove use to keep germs truly at bay.

9. Educate and train regularly
Hand hygiene should be a core part of infection prevention training from day one to equip new hires with knowledge and techniques to set the right standards early. Whenever there is a product or process change, refresh the team with updated training to maintain those standards. Consistent education is key to turning hand hygiene into a habit that protects everyone.

10. Foster a consistent hand hygiene culture
Create a culture of accountability around hand hygiene. Overcome common challenges like fatigue and time constraints by strategically placing hand hygiene stations in key areas. Use visible reminders and encourage everyone to speak up when they see missed opportunities – patient safety depends on it. Realizing the full impact of hand hygiene in healthcare depends on strong commitment and consistent practice across the entire team.

Conclusion

By embracing these hand hygiene tips, healthcare facilities can reduce the spread of infections and create a safer environment for patients. Developing a deeply ingrained culture of safety among healthcare workers is essential for achieving excellence in infection prevention.

Building a culture of safety is a facility-wide effort.  Request a complimentary assessment to see how Ecolab (hand hygiene program) can help identify and overcome your unique hand hygiene challenges.

Ecolab is a world leader in developing hygiene solutions for various industries, including healthcare. We offer some of the most efficient solutions for maintaining high levels of hygiene in hospitals. Get in touch with us to discuss your specific problems and how we can support your infection prevention goals.