Hand Washing
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Residents can avoid illness and loss of valuable time from daily activities if they practice prevention strategies such as hand washing. Many diseases can be prevented and/or controlled by practicing these guidelines. Although people usually think that germs are spread through the air, the fact is that germs are most easily spread through hand contact. One of the best ways to stop the spread of germs is to wash or to decontaminate your hands. “Hand hygiene” is the newest term to describe washing or decontaminating hands. Washing hands helps to physically remove germs by friction and to rinse them down the drain. Decontaminating hands reduces the amount of germs present on hands through use of special alcohol-containing preparations (hand rubs), in the form of gels, rinses, or foams. See information below for more details about hand washing.
More General Guidelines for Preventing the Spread of Infectious Diseases
- Routinely clean and disinfect. The regular cleaning of surface areas will remove dirt and most germs, but disinfecting offers the extra ounce of protection. It is especially important to clean and disinfect in the kitchen and bathroom.
- Use antibiotics appropriately always following directions. Antibiotics can be effective against some bacteria, but not against viruses. When used inappropriately, antibiotics can cause bacteria to become resistant and no longer respond to available drugs.
- Keep pets healthy. Pets should be vaccinated and examined regularly by a veterinarian. Litter boxes and cages should be cleaned daily. Keep pets away from wild animals that carry diseases. Many pets carry infectious diseases, for example, iguanas and turtles carry Salmonella. Always wash your hands after touching animals or cleaning their boxes/cages.
- Practice good respiratory etiquette by coughing or sneezing into a tissue and then throwing it away. Always wash your hands after handling dirty tissues. If you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve not your hands.
When to Wash Hands
- When hands are visibly dirty.
- Before preparing or eating food.
- After touching raw meats like chicken or beef.
- After using the restroom.
- After contact with any body fluids like blood, urine or vomit.
- After changing infant or adult diapers.
- After touching animals or pets.
- After frequent contact with people’s hands.
Wash Hands Frequently and Completely
- Wet hands with water.
- Apply soap to hands – lotion soap is best because bar soap can hold germs.
- Soap every part of the hands (don’t forget between the fingers and under fingernails).
- Rub hands for 10 – 15 seconds (or sing a verse of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”).
- Rinse in a flowing stream of water.
- When there is no water, use alcohol-based hand rubs or detergent-containing towelettes.
- Dry hands with paper towels or hand dryers (operate lever-operated dispensers before washing and activate hand blowers with elbows).
Hand Washing Without Soap and Water
- Choose alcohol hand rubs containing 60-95% alcohol, listed as ingredients isopropyl, ethanol, or n-propanol.
- Choose alcohol hand rubs with 1-3% glycerol, or other skin conditioning agents, as emollients. Emollients are agents added to keep the skin from becoming irritated or dry.
- It is not necessary, or recommended, to routinely wash hands after application of alcohol-based hand rubs.
- Antimicrobial hand wipes are not as effective in killing germs as alcohol hand rubs.
Sources:
Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Health-Care Settings, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MMWR, 2002; Douglas Public Health.
“An Ounce of Prevention” Program, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Control and Prevention, MMWR, 2002.