Difference between revisions of "AY Honors/Home Nursing/Answer Key"
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==Medical hand washing== | ==Medical hand washing== | ||
| − | The purpose of hand washing in the health care setting is to remove or destroy (disinfect) [[pathogens|pathogenic | + | The purpose of hand washing in the health care setting is to remove or destroy (disinfect) [[pathogens|pathogenic microorganisms]] ("germs" in common parlance) to avoid transmitting them to a patient. The application of water alone is ineffective for cleaning skin because water is unable to remove fats, oils, and proteins, which are components of organic soil. The removal of microorganisms from skin requires the addition of soaps or detergents to water. Plain soap does not kill [[pathogen]]s. However, the addition of antiseptic chemicals to soap ("medicated" or "antimicrobial" soaps) does confer killing action to a hand washing agent. Such killing action may be desired when higher levels of disinfection are required (e.g. surgery or settings in which antibiotic-resistant organisms are highly prevalent).<ref> [http://www.cec.health.nsw.gov.au/pdf/WHOGuidelinesAdvancedDraft.pdf] |
The proper washing of hands in a [[medicine|medical]] setting generally consists of the use of generous amounts of soap and water to lather and rub each part of ones hands systematically. Hands should be rubbed together with digits interlocking. If there is debris under fingernails, a bristle brush is often used to remove it. Finally, it is necessary to rinse well and wipe dry with a paper towel. After drying, a dry paper towel should be used to turn off water and open exit door. | The proper washing of hands in a [[medicine|medical]] setting generally consists of the use of generous amounts of soap and water to lather and rub each part of ones hands systematically. Hands should be rubbed together with digits interlocking. If there is debris under fingernails, a bristle brush is often used to remove it. Finally, it is necessary to rinse well and wipe dry with a paper towel. After drying, a dry paper towel should be used to turn off water and open exit door. | ||
Revision as of 23:11, 8 June 2007
Hand washing is the act of cleansing the hands with water or other liquid, with or without the use of soap or other detergents, for the purpose of removing soil or microorganisms.
Purpose
The main purpose of washing hands is to cleanse the hands of pathogens (including bacteria or viruses) and chemicals which can cause personal harm or disease. This is especially important for people who handle food or work in the medical field. Washing your hands is one of the most effective ways to maintain health and prevent infection. Template:Fact
While hot water may more effectively clean your hands, this is primarily due to its increased capability as a solvent, and not due to hot water actually killing germs. Hot water is more effective at removing dirt, oils and/or chemicals, but contrary to popular belief, it does not kill micro organisms. A temperature that is comfortable for hand washing (about 45 °C) is not nearly hot enough to kill any micro organism. It would take more than double that temperature to effectively kill germs (100 °C, which is boiling).
Personal hand washing
To maintain good hygiene, hands should always be washed after using the toilet, changing a diaper or tending to someone who is sick; before eating; before handling or cooking food and after handling raw meat, fish or poultry. Conventionally, the use of soap and warm running water and the washing of all surfaces thoroughly, including under fingernails is seen as necessary. One should rub wet, soapy hands together outside the stream of running water for at least 20 seconds, before rinsing thoroughly and then drying with a clean or disposable towel&. After drying a dry paper towel should be used to turn off water and open exit door. Moisturizing lotion is often recommended to keep the hands from drying out, should one's hands require washing more than a few times per day. &
Antibacterial soaps have been heavily promoted to a health-conscious public. To date, there is no evidence that using recommended antiseptics or disinfectants selects for antibiotic-resistant organisms in nature.& However, antibacterial soaps contain common antibiotics such as Triclosan, which has an extensive list of resistant strains of organisms. So, even if antibacterial soaps do not select for antibiotic resistant strains, they might not be as effective as they are marketed to be. These soaps are quite different from the non-water-based hand hygiene agents referred to below, which also do not promote antibiotic resistance&.
Medical hand washing
The purpose of hand washing in the health care setting is to remove or destroy (disinfect) pathogenic microorganisms ("germs" in common parlance) to avoid transmitting them to a patient. The application of water alone is ineffective for cleaning skin because water is unable to remove fats, oils, and proteins, which are components of organic soil. The removal of microorganisms from skin requires the addition of soaps or detergents to water. Plain soap does not kill pathogens. However, the addition of antiseptic chemicals to soap ("medicated" or "antimicrobial" soaps) does confer killing action to a hand washing agent. Such killing action may be desired when higher levels of disinfection are required (e.g. surgery or settings in which antibiotic-resistant organisms are highly prevalent).Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag One study has shown that proper hand washing and other simple procedures can decrease the rate of catheter-related bloodstream infections by 66 percent.&[1]
Hand washing as compensation
Excessive hand washing is commonly seen as a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
It has also been found that people, after having recalled or contemplated unethical acts, tend to wash hands more often than others, and tend to value hand washing equipment more. Furthermore, those who are allowed to wash their hands after such a contemplation are less likely to engage in other "cleansing" compensatory actions, such as volunteering.&&
Symbolic hand washing
- Ablution in the Bahá'í Faith
- Ablution in the Hebrew Bible
- Ablution in Hinduism
- Ablution in Judaism
- Lavabo in Christianity
- Misogi in Shintoism
- Wudu in Islam
Idioms
When someone "washes their hands of" something, this means that they are declaring their unwillingness to take responsibility for it or share complicity in it. Matthew 27:24 gives an account of Pontius Pilate washing his hands of the decision to crucify Jesus: "When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it."
See also
References
- ↑ Hand washing from Mayo Clinic
- ↑ Hand washing from Tufts University
- ↑ Infection control and hospital epidemiology : the official journal of the Society of Hospital Epidemiologists of America. (Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol) 2006 Oct; 27(10): 1107-19
- ↑ Clean hands from the CDC
- ↑ Template:Cite journal
- ↑ Benedict Carey. Lady Macbeth Not Alone in Her Quest for Spotlessness. The New York Times, 12 September 2006
- ↑ Chen-Bo Zhong and Katie Liljenquist. Washing Away Your Sins: Threatened Morality and Physical Cleansing. Science, 8 September 2006: Vol. 313. no. 5792, pp. 1451 - 1452
External links
- Alliance for Prudent Use of Antibiotics on hand washing
- Centers for Disease Control on hand hygiene in healthcare settings
- Hand Washing Video - Grey Bruce Health Unit, Canada
de:Händedesinfektion fr:Lavage des mains ja:手洗い simple:Hand washing
