Hand Hygiene And Aseptic Technique
Hand Hygiene and Aseptic Technique
Keira L. Charles
NURS 410: Health Deviation II
Latricia Greggs, PhD, RN,
November 17, 2014
Asepsis is the state of being free from living pathogenic microorganisms. Practicing hand hygiene and aseptic technique is effective in reducing the risk of associated infections in the hospital setting, but the adherence among health care workers are poor. Hand washing causes a significant reduction in the carriage of potential pathogens on the hands. Adhering to good hand hygiene may also reduce the patients’ morbidity and mortality for nosocomial infection. Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a common microorganism that is transferred from healthcare worker to patients who fail to follow aseptic technique. Asepsis protects healthcare professionals from becoming contaminated with patient’s body fluids or blood. Hand hygiene is the most measure in reducing or preventions Hospital Associated Infections (Gould et al 2007). In the United States, more than 1.7 million hospitalized patients are diagnosed with hospital-acquired infections, annually, and approximately 90,000 die from this each year. This is the fifth leading cause of death in acute care hospitals. Most hospital acquired infections come from cross-infection from hands of healthcare workers. It is estimated that 15 to 30 percent of hospital-acquired infections are preventable through improved hand hygiene. Lack of hand washing is due to staff shortages, lack of time, and lack of education. Continue education on the importance of hand washing and aseptic technique may be successful at reducing risk of contracting and spreading infection. Heath professionals should ensure that their hands are washed immediately before and after contact with patients and equipment (Pratt et al 2007). Antiseptic agents are taking the place of hand washing in the hospital setting. Antiseptic agent is an antimicrobial substance that is applied to the skin to reduce the number of
Keira L. Charles
NURS 410: Health Deviation II
Latricia Greggs, PhD, RN,
November 17, 2014
Asepsis is the state of being free from living pathogenic microorganisms. Practicing hand hygiene and aseptic technique is effective in reducing the risk of associated infections in the hospital setting, but the adherence among health care workers are poor. Hand washing causes a significant reduction in the carriage of potential pathogens on the hands. Adhering to good hand hygiene may also reduce the patients’ morbidity and mortality for nosocomial infection. Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a common microorganism that is transferred from healthcare worker to patients who fail to follow aseptic technique. Asepsis protects healthcare professionals from becoming contaminated with patient’s body fluids or blood. Hand hygiene is the most measure in reducing or preventions Hospital Associated Infections (Gould et al 2007). In the United States, more than 1.7 million hospitalized patients are diagnosed with hospital-acquired infections, annually, and approximately 90,000 die from this each year. This is the fifth leading cause of death in acute care hospitals. Most hospital acquired infections come from cross-infection from hands of healthcare workers. It is estimated that 15 to 30 percent of hospital-acquired infections are preventable through improved hand hygiene. Lack of hand washing is due to staff shortages, lack of time, and lack of education. Continue education on the importance of hand washing and aseptic technique may be successful at reducing risk of contracting and spreading infection. Heath professionals should ensure that their hands are washed immediately before and after contact with patients and equipment (Pratt et al 2007). Antiseptic agents are taking the place of hand washing in the hospital setting. Antiseptic agent is an antimicrobial substance that is applied to the skin to reduce the number of