|
|
Indications for handwashing
and hand antisepsis
|
Wash with
|
Category |
|
A |
When hands are visibly dirty or contaminated with proteinaceous material or are
visibly soiled with blood or other body fluids
|
Either a non-antimicrobial soap and water or an antimicrobial soap and water
|
IA |
|
B |
If hands are not visibly soiled and for routinely decontaminating hands in all other
clinical situations described below in C-J
|
An alcohol-based hand rub |
IA |
|
|
Alternately, in clinical situation C-J
|
Antimicrobial soap and water
|
IB |
|
C |
Decontaminate hands before direct contact with patients
|
|
IB |
|
D |
Decontaminate hands before donning sterile gloves when inserting a central intravascular
catheter
|
|
IB |
|
E |
Decontaminate hands before inserting indwelling urinary catheter, peripheral vascular
catheter or other invasive device that does not require a surgical procedure
|
|
IB |
|
F |
Decontaminate hands after contact with a patients intact skin
|
|
IB |
|
G |
Decontaminate hands after contact with body fluids or excretions, mucous membranes,
non-intact skin or wound dressings if the hands are not visibly soiled
|
|
IA |
|
H |
Decontaminate hands if moving from a contaminated body site to a clean body site
during patient care
|
|
II |
|
I |
Decontaminate hands after contact with inanimate objects in the immediate vicinity
of the patient
|
|
II |
|
J |
Decontaminate hands after removing gloves
|
|
IB |
|
K |
Before eating and after using the restroom
|
Non-antimicrobial soap and water or antimicrobial soap and water
|
IB |
|
L |
|
Antimicrobial-impregnated wipes (towelettes) may be considered as an alternative
to
washing hands with non-antimicrobial soap and water. Because they are not as
effective as alcohol-based hand rubs or washing hands with antimicrobial soap
and water for reducing bacterial counts on the hands of HCW’s, they are not
a
substitute for using alcohol-based hand rub or antimicrobial soap.
|
IB |
|
M |
If exposure to Bacillus anthracis is suspected or proven. The physical action of
washing and rinsing hands under such circumstances is recommended because alcohols,
chlorhexidine, iodophors and other antiseptic agents have poor activity against
spores.
|
Non-antimicrobial soap and water or antimicrobial soap and water
|
II |
|
N |
No recommendation can be made regarding the routine use of non-alcohol-based hand
rubs for hand hygiene in healthcare settings
|
|
Unresolved
Issue |