Since the COVID-19 pandemic, ABHRs have been in short supply due to the surge in demand both from healthcare facilities and the general public. The technique for use of ABHR to decontaminate hands must be carried out thoroughly and for a time period sufficient to inactivate the virus which is usually 30 seconds (but the manufacturer’s instructions should always be followed). laboratory data demonstrate that 60% ethanol and 70% isopropanol, the active ingredients in CDC recommended alcohol-based hand sanitizers, inactivates viruses that are genetically related to, and with similar physical properties as, the 2019-nCoV.’ ĪBHR must be available for all staff as near to the point of patient care as possible, where this is not practical, personal dispensers should be used. Recent advice from the US based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that although ‘hand washing mechanically removes pathogens …. The technique for hand washing must be carried out thoroughly and for a time period sufficient to inactivate the virus which is 40 to 60 seconds. Hand hygiene includes the use of ABHR for routine hand hygiene and hand washing with soap and water, including thorough drying, if hands are visibly soiled or dirty. Hands must be cleaned immediately before and after every episode of direct patient care and after any activity or contact that potentially results in hands becoming contaminated, including the removal of personal protective equipment (PPE), equipment decontamination, waste handling and touching the patient’s surroundings. The latest guidance from the Department of Health and Social Care reiterates the WHO, 2009 ‘5 Moments for Hand Hygiene’.
This article examines hand hygiene guidelines for health workers and considers the role of alcohol based hand rubs (ABHRs) as well as offering guidance on selecting the most suitable ABHRs for use in the healthcare setting. A critical and basic element of SICPs is hand hygiene, which is essential to reduce the transmission of infection in hospitals and other healthcare settings.
They should be used by all staff, in all care settings, at all times, for all patients. Standard infection control precautions (SICPs) are the basic steps necessary to reduce the risk of transmission of infectious agents. Limiting transmission of the COVID-19 pandemic in the healthcare setting requires a wide range of infection prevention measures. By Thomas OH, Ph.D., Medical & Scientific Affairs for ASIA PACIFIC (Schülke & Mayr)
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