Hand Hygiene
Course Number: 590
Course Contents
Hand Hygiene
Hand hygiene is a general term that applies to (1) handwashing; (2) hand antisepsis, i.e., antiseptic handwash and antiseptic handrub; and (3) surgical hand antisepsis.2,3,11 Performing hand hygiene is indicated (1) when hands are visibly soiled, (2) after barehanded touching of inanimate objects likely to be contaminated by blood and OPIM such as saliva or respiratory secretions, (3) before and after treating each patient, (4) before donning gloves, and (5) immediately after removing gloves.
Products used for hand hygiene in healthcare settings include detergents and antiseptic agents. Detergents contain esterified fatty acids and sodium or potassium hydroxide and are often referred to as “soaps.” Plain soap does not contain an antimicrobial agent or contains only such a low concentration that it is effective solely as a preservative.2 The cleaning activity of plain soap results in the removal of dirt, soil, and various organic substances from the hands.
Antiseptic agents (Table 1) in hand hygiene products used in healthcare settings should (1) have a broad spectrum, (2) be fast acting, reduce the number of microorganisms on intact skin to an initial baseline level (i.e., by 2-log10 or 99% on each hand within 5 minute after the first use of the product and by 3-log10 or 99.9% on each hand within 5 minutes after the tenth use) after adequate washing, rinsing and/or rubbing and drying; and (3) should have persistent or residual activity.2,12
Hand Hygiene-Table
Table 1. Microbial spectrum of various antiseptic agents.*
| Class | Gram-positive bacteria | Gram-negative bacteria | MBT1 | Viruses | Fungi | Onset of action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethanol (60 to 95%) | +++ | +++ | +++ | +++ | +++ | Fast |
| Iodophors (5 to 10%) | +++ | +++ | + | ++ | ++ | Intermediate |
| Chlorhexidine (2 to 4%) | +++ | ++ | + | +++ | ++ | Intermediate |
| Phenol derivatives | +++ | + | + | + | + | Intermediate |
| Quaternary ammonium compounds | + | ++ | - | - | + | Slow |
Note: 1 Mycobacterium tuberculosis
+++ = excellent; ++ = good; + = fair; - = no activity or not sufficient
*Hexachlorophene and triclosan are not included because they are no longer acceptable ingredients in hand disinfectants.
Persistence is characterized by prolonged antimicrobial activity that prevents or inhibits the survival or proliferation of microorganisms after application of the product. Some antiseptic products also demonstrate substantivity, i.e., they adhere to the stratum corneum of the skin and continue to provide an inhibitory effect on microbial growth after rinsing or drying. However, substantivity is not an absolute requirement for an agent to lower the number of bacteria following hand hygiene.
The FDA classifies antiseptic agents as Category I, II, or III. Category I agents are generally recognized as safe and effective; Category II agents are not generally recognized as safe and effective; data on Category III agents are insufficient to classify as safe and effective. Based on available evidence, the FDA concluded that only ethanol, 60 to 95% formulations; and povidone iodine, 5 to 10% formulations, meet the test and product labeling requirements as antiseptic agents.12