Link: Hand Hygiene and Infection Control: Skin Care Supports Patient Care.
Clean, healthy hands, appropriate glove use and a solid hand hygiene protocol are the first lines of defense for patients and healthcare professionals against potentially infectious agents. And the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) “Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings” focuses on just this.1 As noted by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), “hand hygiene is the cornerstone of any infection control program and plays an integral role in reducing the transmission and occurrence of infection. All hospitals must have comprehensive hand hygiene programs in place.”2
A Handwashing/Hand Antisepsis Protocol
By establishing a protocol and undertaking a consistent, effective hand-care regimen, clinicians can maintain the integrity of their skin against bloodborne pathogens and other infectious materials.
The purpose of handwashing is to remove soil and transient microorganisms. Soaps and detergents are among the most damaging substances applied to the skin. In occupations requiring frequent handwashing, changes in the skin can result in chronic damage, irritant contact dermatitis, eczema, and changes in normal skin flora. Damaged skin may harbor increased numbers of pathogens and often sheds higher numbers of organisms. Additionally, washing damaged skin is less effective at reducing bacteria than washing normal skin.
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Solid observations re: hand washing-and how too much of anything is no good. Equally important to discuss: the alcohol-based hand sanitizer products that health care professionals have become otherwise addicted to aren’t so good for the hands either–and many are migrating towards alcohol-free alternatives (BAC-based) that address both antiseptic and antibacterial criteria, but without damaging skin cells. Yes, we know that BAC is widely accepted as an antiseptic, we know that its effective when applying to dirty hands, and we know that select lab studies have suggested that, much like any other organic compound, excessive use could result in negative resistancy.. We also know that many will claim ‘not enough research done that would warrant our recommending this..”….despite the fact this has been a widely-accepted alternative for almost a decade. We’re biased–we manufacture and market 2 BAC-based hand sanitizer products–one of our brands (Soapopular) was introduced 12 months ago, and has already been warmly welcomed into more than 3000 retail stores (including Wal-Mart, Target, 2 Drug Chains, tens of dozens of independent pharmacies and is also the #2 hand sanitizer at Amazon.com, and has been implemented by 300+ schools throughout the country–the other brand (Hy5) is penetrating health care and institutional venues that require OSHA compliant dispensing devices.