Hand washing and Infection Control

Why is Hand washing Important?

Routine Hand washing prevents the spread of disease!

How disease spreads

Infectious diseases can spread in a variety of ways.

Common Microbes

Microbes found on a cutting board.

© Dennis Kunkel

E Coli.

© Dennis Kunkel Staphylococcus aureus

© Dennis Kunkel

Proper hand washing with

soap and waterFollow these instructions for washing with

soap and water:

• Wet your hands with warm, running water and apply liquid or clean bar soap. Lather well.

• Rub your hands vigorously together for at least 15 seconds.

• Scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails.

• Rinse well. • Dry your hands with a clean or disposable towel. • Use a towel to turn off the tap.

When should you wash your hands?

Although it's impossible to keep your hands germ-free, times exist when it's critical to wash

your hands to limit the transfer of bacteria, viruses and other microbes.

Barriers to hand washing

Can you find the sink in this picture?

Barriers to hand washing

The sink mentioned in the previous slide is located

behind the patient’s bed and behind several IV

pumps.

Health care workersNurses, doctors

and other healthcare

workers can get 100s or

1000s of bacteria on

their hands by doing simple

tasks

Culture plate showing growth of bacteria 24 hours after a nurse

placed her hand on the plate

How clean are you???