It is possible to prevent the spread of diseases and germs with the help of such a simple procedure as washing hands. Hand sanitizing levels depend on the person's level of exposure to the potential hazard, as well as their professional activities. The rules of such disinfection should be familiar not only to every professional medical worker, but also to a simple layman.
Types of microflora
What is the method of hand treatment? The levels of hand cleaning depend on the tasks and jobs that the he althcare professional performs. Since it is not possible to completely cleanse the skin of pathogenic bacteria, it must be disinfected on an ongoing basis. For general information, it is necessary to give a basic classification of microflora:
- Normal. It assumes the presence of permanently residing and multiplying microorganisms that do not negatively affect a person. Their presence provides educationantibodies that prevent the formation of gram-negative bacteria. Normal microflora is not completely destroyed by cleaning products or antiseptics.
- Transient. It is observed in he althcare workers (or any other people) in contact with infected people or objects. It is divided into two additional directions - pathogenic (causes diseases), conditionally pathogenic (provokes damage only under the condition of a certain factor). In addition, there is another separate subgroup - opportunistic microorganisms that affect only immunocompromised individuals.
It should be noted that there are the most problematic areas on the skin of the hands, which are quite problematic to clean from such contaminants. These include the ridges near the nails and the space under the nails, as well as the spaces between the fingers.
The first methods of processing hands appeared and began to be used in the middle of the 19th century. So, at first, a phenol solution was used for disinfection. Currently, it is customary to practice slightly different methods.
Classification of skin disinfection methods
So, how exactly is the classification of such a procedure as hand treatment carried out? Hand processing levels are represented by three types of manipulations:
- Normal processing.
- Hygienic treatment.
- Surgical debridement.
Let's analyze the features of each method in a little more detail.
First stage
Ordinary washing isthe simplest and most affordable cleaning method. Its task is to eliminate dirt and a number of bacteria carried from dirty surfaces and infected people. Medical professionals wash their hands before starting work, after receiving a patient, changing clothes, and also after moving to another office or to another place of work. For the procedure can be used:
- Liquid soap, optimally with an individual dispenser. Applied twice in one wash.
- Soap is hard, less desirable, needs to dry between uses, also applied twice.
Efficiency of a simple wash is no more than 70 percent with a double repetition and no more than 40 percent with a single wash. Before the procedure, it is recommended to remove all jewelry and watches, and thoroughly rub the cleanser into the skin, then rinse completely and repeat the manipulations. The soap used should not contain additional fragrances or dyes, it should be neutral.
Second stage
Processing the hands of medical staff is often carried out by a hygienic method. It is carried out, as a rule, in the following cases:
- Before examination or patient contact.
- Contact with body fluids.
- Before and after using disposable gloves.
- When placing various types of catheters, as well as after voiced manipulations.
- During and after patient care procedures.
- After contact with equipment used for treatment anddiagnostics.
- In other potentially dangerous cases of microbial contamination.
Such hygienic treatment involves two stages. At the first stage, a classic hand washing is carried out, at the second, disinfection is added with an alcohol-containing antiseptic.
Hygienic or medical treatment of hands can be carried out using the following types of antiseptics:
- Bactericidal soap (in liquid form).
- Alcohol solutions designed specifically for the treatment of the skin.
- Bactericidal gel.
The product without alcohol is applied to wet skin in an average amount of 3 to 5 milliliters. Alcohol-based products are used on dry skin, they need to be rubbed for about 15-20 seconds. It is allowed to add a small amount of glycerin or lanolin to the antiseptic to soften the skin and prevent its drying.
Third stage
Surgical treatment of hands is the third and most total method of disinfection. Its implementation is relevant for all participants in the surgical intervention. It is carried out according to the following algorithm:
- Washing hands. Lasts for 2 minutes, after treatment, the skin must be dried with sterile material.
- Using an antiseptic. With its help, hands, wrists, and, if necessary, forearms are processed. There are special rules for the amount of its use, as well as the multiplicityapplications.
It should be noted that the surgical treatment of hands can be carried out exclusively with antiseptics containing alcohol. These include the following drugs:
- "AHD-2000".
- "AHD–2000 Special".
- "Decocept".
- "Lizannin" and others.
Severely dirty treatment
Separately, it is necessary to touch on the question of how the hands of the medical staff are processed when the patient's blood gets on them. If the biological fluid has got directly on the skin, it is required to act according to the following algorithm:
- Remove the resulting contamination with a tissue.
- Cleanse skin with soap and water.
- Dry the affected area with a disposable sterile cloth.
- Twice to treat with alcohol antiseptic.
If contamination gets on the surface of the glove, the procedure undergoes certain changes. They are represented by the following scheme:
- Remove contamination from material with a disinfectant wipe.
- Washing gloved hands with water.
- Removing gloves.
- Wash hands with soap and dry.
- Single use of hand sanitizer.
Basic recommendations
There are also general rules for handling hands. They boil down to the following requirements and recommendations:
- When washing your hands, try to stay away from the sink so as not to splash water jetsclothes.
- The use of soap should produce a rich lather.
- Water for hygiene procedures should be at a comfortable temperature (approximately 36 to 40 degrees).
- Pay special attention to problem areas where bacteria and harmful microorganisms accumulate the most.
- Rinse your hands so that the water runs from your fingers to your wrist, not the other way around.
- Don't leave soap residue on your skin.
- Use disposable rather than reusable towels or napkins for drying, use them to turn off the faucet after treatments.
Types of drugs
How to choose the right hand sanitizer? When choosing one or another tool, use the following recommendations:
- Soap without antimicrobial additives. Slightly reduces the activity and number of microbes, has no residual effect, cleans well from carrier bacteria.
- Antiseptics without alcohol. They are a universal agent with moderate effectiveness, reduce the number of germs and carrier bacteria, while characterized by a slight residual effect. With constant use, the quality of their action increases.
- Antiseptics with alcohol. Extremely effective against germs, moderately effective against carrier bacteria, with no residual effect.
Of course, medical workers have specific documents that prescribe how they shouldhands are processed. Hand sanitizing levels determine the type of disinfectant used. For example, let's dwell in more detail on the means for surgical treatment:
- Alcohols. The optimal solution is ethyl 70%. Excellent help against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, affect individual viruses and fungi.
- Solutions based on iodine and alcohol - a wide spectrum of action. Helps against bacteria, including tuberculosis, spores, viruses, protozoa, and fungi.
- Iodophors. Helps against rotoviruses, herpes, HIV infection, staphylococci and spores.
- Chlorhexidine. Has a narrower spectrum of activity, targets Gram-positive bacteria, certain categories of fungi.
