Host: 

This is the last section of the first part: correct way to perform hand hygiene. What do you think about this topic?

Staff: 

Washing hands with water and soap should be enough!  

Resident: 

I heard that alcohol-based handrub is more effective.

Visitor: 

I tried both, but what is the difference?

Host: 

Are they correct?

According to the WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care released in May 2009, we should wash our hands with soap and water when hands are visibly soiled.

Otherwise, we may perform hand hygiene with alcohol-based handrub.

Host: 

No matter which methods to be used, it is important to perform hand hygiene in the correct way, remember to rub your hands for at least 20 seconds.

The seven steps of hand rubbing include:

the palms,

back of hands,

between fingers,

back of fingers,

thumbs,

finger tips

and wrists.

Host: 

You should note several key points when using alcohol-based handrub:

First of all, you can only use it when the hands have no visible dirt.

You should use a palmful of handrub, about 3 to 5ml, and rub your hands thoroughly at least 20 seconds till it dries up.

If you need to handle the excreta of residents suffering from gastroenteritis or change diapers, you should wear gloves and wash hands with soap and water after disposing of gloves. 

Host: 

You should wash hands with soap and water in a similar way as with the alcohol-based handrub.

First, wet your hands with water,

apply liquid soap,

and rub the palms,

back of hands,

between fingers,

back of fingers,

thumbs,

finger tips

and wrists for at least 20 seconds;

Then rinse hands thoroughly with water,

And dry hands thoroughly with paper towels.

Turn off the water tap using the paper towels as the cleaned hands should not touch the water tap directly again.

Host: 

We will use measurement of urine output of the urinary catheter as an example to further illustrate the five moments of hand hygiene:

Before touching the outlet of the urinary bag, you should clean your hands with alcohol-based handrub and then put on the gloves.

Clean the outlet twice using the alcohol swabs before measuring the urine output. 

Clean the outlet twice again using alcohol swabs after measurement, then discard the urine.

When you finished the measurement, you should take off the gloves and perform hand hygiene immediately.

Finally, you can record the readings and finish the procedure.

Host:

 I believe you have a better understanding of hand hygiene now. Let’s pitch in hand hygiene campaign from now on and say goodbye to the pathogens!