14 Hand Hygiene
In most cases, hand hygiene is either the use of alcohol hand foam, OR soap and water.
Perform hand hygiene:
- On entry and exit to patient rooms or care settings
- Between patients within the same room
- After contact with intact skin
- Before insertion or manipulation of any invasive devices
- During patient care when moving from a contaminated body site to a clean body site
- Before placement of gloves and after removal of gloves
- After using the restroom
- After coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose
- If hands are visibly soiled they should be washed with soap and water
- When caring for a patient with Clostridium difficile wash hands with soap and water