Fight Infections with Hand Hygiene

Infections are a major problem in long-term care facilities, with an estimated 1.6 to 3.8 infections per resident occurring annually. These infections account for up to half of all nursing home resident transfers to hospitals.¹

Infectious organisms can be transmitted either through direct contact (e.g., skin to skin) or indirect contact (for example, through air, water or inanimate objects).¹ One of the easiest and most effective ways to halt infections is through proper hand hygiene.

Depending on the situation, hand hygiene can include either washing the hands with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand rub. According to the CDC, alcohol-based hand sanitizers are appropriate for use when hands are not visibly soiled and before having direct contact with residents.²

In addition to establishing hand hygiene policies and procedures for your employees, you might also want to consider placing hand sanitizer in high-traffic areas of your facility, where interaction among staff, residents, family members and guests can increase the likelihood of germ transmission. Hand sanitizers are also now available in convenient touch-free dispensers, which can be mounted on stands and placed throughout the building. Touch-free dispensers have been shown to increase hand hygiene compliance by 20.8 percent.³

Your ProMed territory manager is ready to talk to you about creating a comprehensive hand hygiene program! Give us a call at (800) 648-5190 or visit us online at www.promedsupply.com.

References

1 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. State Operations Manual. Appendix PP – Guidance to Surveyors for Long Term Facilities (Rev. 70, 01-07-11). Available at: http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/downloads/som107ap_pp_guidelines_ltcf.pdf. Accessed August 16, 2012.

2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Health-Care Settings: Recommendations of the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee and the HICPAC/SHEA/APIC/IDSA Hand Hygiene Task Force. MMWR. 2002;51(RR-16).

3 Larson EL, Albrecht S, O’Keefe M. Hand hygiene behavior in a pediatric emergency department and a pediatric intensive care unit: comparison of use of 2 dispenser systems. Am J Crit Care. 2005 Jul;14:304-11; quiz 312.