1. Hand Washing

2. Standard Hand Washing Procedure
According to OSHA standards regarding blood borne pathogens, hand washing should be performed, at a minimum:
Before and after every patient contact
After removing gloves and other protective wear
After handling blood or other body fluids
When visibly contaminated with blood or tissues
Before leaving the patient area
Before and after eating, applying makeup, using the bathroom, handling contact lenses, handling equipment

3. Importance of Hand Washing to Reduce Nosocomial Infections
Reduces spread of disease from patient to patient
Reduces spread of disease from patient to health care professional
Reduces spread of disease form health care professional to patient
Reduces spread of diseases from health care professional to other health care professionals
Reduce the spread of disease to visitors in health care facility

4. Proper Hand Washing Technique
Soap aids in the removal of pathogens
Warm water
Friction
All surfaces of hand must must be cleaned: palms, backs, between the fingers
Nails must be cleaned
Fingertips pointed downwards to prevent water from getting on forearms and then running back down on the hands recontaminating them
Dry paper towels used to turn on and off the faucet prevents contamination f hands from organisms on the faucet

6. Cleaning Hands with Waterless Hand Sanitizer

7. Benefits of Hand Sanitizer Washing
Requires less time than hand washing
Acts quickly to kill microorganisms on hands
Are more accessible than sinks
Reduce bacterial counts on hands
Do not promote antimicrobial resistance
Are less irritating to skin than soap and water
Some can even improve the condition of skin

8. Four Steps of Washing with Hand Sanitizer
Make sure all organic matter is removed from hands; visible organic matter (such as dirt) must be removed prior to washing with hand sanitizer
Apply a dime size amount of sanitizer to the palm of one hand or use a sanitizer wipe
Rub hands covering all surfaces of hands and fingers
Rub until hand sanitizer is absorbed