4 Worst Practices for Hand Hygiene

Although there are plenty of best practices for hand hygiene in healthcare settings, there are also “worst practices” that should not become routine.

Advertisement

New expert guidance on hand hygiene, published in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, lays out the following four hand hygiene habits to avoid:

•    Using hot water for hand washing, as it can irritate the skin
•    Using alcohol-based hand rubs when hands are visibly soiled
•    Using soaps with triclosan, as there is a lack of evidence that triclosan-containing soaps are more effective than hand sanitizers or soaps with chlorhexidine gluconate, and there are concerns with triclosan’s impact on the environment
•    Using the self-report method as the primary way of measuring hand hygiene compliance

More Articles on Hand Hygiene:
10 Expert-Recommended Hand Hygiene Practices
Patients Can ‘Be The Difference’ in Hand Hygiene Efforts

At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.

Register to Attend Webinar

When nurses help build the AI, adoption follows: Lessons from 3 health systems

Tuesday, July 28
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM CDT

Presenters: Amy McCarthy, DNP, RNC-MNN, NE-BC, CENP, Hippocratic AIBeth Reimschissel, PhD, RN, CNL, Memorial HermannAllison Schlinkert, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, Cincinnati Children'sScott Estep, MBOE, BSN, RN, CSSBB, OhioHealth System

Advertisement

Next Up in Clinical Leadership & Infection Control

Advertisement

Comments are closed.