Show Me the Science | Hand Hygiene

Germs are everywhere. They are within and on our bodies and on every surface you touch. But not all germs are bad. We need some of these germs to keep us healthy and our immune system strong.
Your hands have good germs on them that your body needs to stay healthy. These germs live under the deeper layers of the skin.
Your hands can also have bad germs on them that make you sick. These germs live on the surface and are easily killed/wiped away by the alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer is the preferred way to keep your hands clean.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers kill the good and bad germs, but the good germs quickly come back on your hands.

Wash your hands for at least 15 seconds, not specifically 15 seconds.
The time it takes is less important than making sure you clean all areas of your hands.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are the preferred way to clean your hands in healthcare facilities.

References

Guidelines for Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings Published 2002 [PDF – 496 KB] ; pp. 8 and 32.

An alcohol-based hand sanitizer is the preferred method for cleaning your hands when they are not visibly dirty because it:

Is more effective at killing potentially deadly germs on hands than soap
Is easier to use during the course of care, especially
- when moving from soiled to clean activities with the same patient or resident
- when moving between patients or residents in shared rooms or common areas
Improves skin condition with less irritation and dryness than soap and water

References

These areas are most often missed by healthcare providers when using alcohol-based hand sanitizer:

Thumbs
Fingertips
Between fingers

References

Widmer, A. F., Dangel, M., & RN. (2004). Alcohol-based hand rub: evaluation of technique and microbiological efficacy with international infection control professionals. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, 25(3), 207-209.

Always clean your hands after removing gloves. Dirty gloves can soil hands.
It is important to change your gloves:

IF:

Gloves are Damaged
Moving from contaminated body site to clean body site
Gloves look dirty or have blood or bodily fluids on them after completing a task

THEN:

Gloves look dirty or have blood or bodily fluids on them after completing a task

References
1. Guidelines for Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings Published 2002 [PDF – 496 KB]; 29-30.

Use the right amount of alcohol-based hand sanitizer product to clean your hands
The efficacy of alcohol-based hand sanitizer depends on the volume applied to the hands

References

Widmer, A. F., Dangel, M., & RN. (2007). Introducing alcohol-based hand rub for hand hygiene: the critical need for training. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, 28(1), 50-54.

C. difficile is a common healthcare-associated infection that causes severe diarrhea.
C. difficile forms spores that are not killed by an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
The spores can be transferred to patients via the hands of healthcare providers who have touched a contaminated surface or item.
If you have a C. difficile infection, make sure your healthcare providers wear gloves when examining you.
The most important way that you can prevent the spread of C. difficile is by washing your hands with soap and water after touching potentially contaminated surfaces.

References

Guidelines for Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings Published 2002 [PDF – 496 KB]; 5, 16-17.

Alcohol-based hand rub (or sanitizers) do not contribute to antibiotic resistance.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers kill germs, including antibiotic-resistant germs, by destroying the proteins and protective outer membrane that germs need to survive.
Antibiotic resistance happens when germs like bacteria and fungi develop the ability to defeat the drugs designed to kill them.

Find more information on ways to protect yourself and your family.

Studies show that some healthcare providers practice hand hygiene less than half of the times they should. Healthcare providers might need to clean their hands as many as 100 times per 12-hour shift, depending on the number of patients and intensity of care. Know what it could take to keep your patients safe.