As the saying goes, "wash your hands often, and the disease will go". Washing your hands is so commonplace, but there is a hidden mystery!
Did you know that human hands are generally contaminated with more than 30 pathogens such as dysentery bacillus, typhoid bacillus, E. coli and hepatitis virus, there are at least hundreds of thousands of bacteria in the hands, and as many as 3.8 billion bacteria can hide alone in a fingernail, some viruses can survive on wet and warm hands for more than 7 days, and there are even "superbugs" colonized for a long time. However, we are always inseparable from our hands in life, and we inevitably encounter various bacteria and viruses in public places and interpersonal interactions, and "hands" have naturally become the "culprits" of disease transmission.
Therefore, "hand hygiene" is increasingly concerned by the medical and health industry. In 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) initiated the initiative of "World Hand Hygiene Day". On the occasion of 5 May 2024 (the 16th World Hand Hygiene Day), let's talk about "hand hygiene".
What is Hand Hygiene?
It is a general term for hand washing, hygienic hand sanitization, and surgical hand disinfection. In medical institutions, "hand hygiene" is the simplest, most economical and most effective means to prevent and control the spread of pathogens between doctors and patients, and to prevent the occurrence of nosocomial infections. In the same way, "hand hygiene" is also an important way to prevent diseases in daily life.
Why do hand hygiene?
◇Prevention of infectious diseases: Hand is the main way to spread pathogens, and hand hygiene is one of the important measures to prevent infectious diseases. With proper hand washing and disinfection, bacteria and viruses can be effectively killed, reducing the occurrence and spread of diseases.
◇ Protect health: Hand hygiene can not only prevent infectious diseases, but also protect health. Regular hand hygiene can reduce the number of bacteria on your hands and reduce the risk of contracting diseases, while also maintaining healthy and beautiful skin.
◇Improve quality of life: Hand hygiene is a healthy behavior that can improve quality of life. With proper hand hygiene, you can avoid the discomfort and pain caused by illness, maintain good health, and make life better.
When do health care workers need to practice hand hygiene? Five moments to keep in mind hand hygiene
1. Before touching the patient;
2. Before cleaning/aseptic manipulation;
3. After possible contact with the patient's body fluids;
4. After contact with the patient;
5. After contact with the patient's surroundings.
Hand hygiene is the simplest, most effective, most convenient and most economical measure to reduce nosocomial infections.
When do you need hand hygiene in your daily life?
1. Wash your hands when your hands are dirty;
2. Before cooking, before dining, after meals;
3. Before the bowel movement, the bowel movement;
4. Before caring for the elderly, children and the sick, after caring for the sick;
5. Wash or disinfect hands if you have been in contact with blood, tears, nasal discharge, sputum and saliva before touching your mouth, nose and eyes;
6. After returning home from going out;
7. After coughing or sneezing;
8. After cleaning, after cleaning up the garbage;
9. Wash hands or disinfect hands after touching public facilities such as elevator buttons and door handles after touching express delivery;
10. Before holding your child and feeding your child.
How do you wash your hands properly?
Moisten your hands with running water and apply hand sanitizer (or soap) or apply a quick-drying hand sanitizer evenly
Step 1: Rub your fingers together palm to palm;
Step 2: Rub the palms of your palms against the backs of your hands, cross your hands and rub them together, and then alternate your hands.
Step 3: Palm-to-palm, rub your fingers together and rub them together;
Step 4: Bend the ten fingers and clasp tightly, rotate and knead the thumbs, and exchange hands;
Step 5: Hold your thumb in the palm of the other hand and rotate and rub it, and exchange your hands.
Step 6: Rotate and rub your fingertips together in the palm of the other hand, and exchange your hands.
Step 7: Rub your wrists and rinse them off.
In short, caring for health starts with washing your hands!
(References: "Basic Code of Conduct for Citizens' Epidemic Prevention" - Frequent Hand Washing, "Hand Hygiene Standards for Medical Staff", "Infection Control Nurse Hospital Infection Prevention and Control Manual")
(Anyue County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hospital Infection Management Ke Luo Jing, Zhou Chunhua)