What are the key principles of hand hygiene that I should reinforce with my practice staff to prevent healthcare-associated infections?

Key principles of hand hygiene to reinforce with practice staff include:

• Education and training: All healthcare workers should be educated about standard infection prevention principles and trained specifically in hand decontamination techniques, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and safe disposal of sharps to prevent contamination and infection transmission.
• Availability of supplies: Ensure that appropriate materials for hand decontamination, such as liquid soap, tepid running water, and handrubs compliant with British standards, are always available at points of care.
• When to perform hand hygiene: Hands must be decontaminated immediately before and after every episode of direct patient contact or care, after exposure to body fluids, after contact with a patient’s surroundings, and immediately after glove removal.
• Technique and timing: Staff should be trained on the correct techniques for handwashing with soap and water or using handrub, and understand when each method is appropriate.
• Patient and carer education: Educate patients and carers about the importance of effective hand hygiene, correct techniques, timing, and their role in supporting healthcare workers’ hand hygiene standards.

Reinforcing these principles helps reduce healthcare-associated infections by minimizing microbial transmission via hands in the primary care setting.

References: NICE CG139