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