Hand hygiene and products intended for its hygienic and surgical disinfection
Preventing and minimizing HAIs (Healthcare-Associated Infections, so-called nosocomial infections) has always been a major objective of medicine, being the best indicator of the safety and quality of medical care. Hands are the primary route for the transmission of pathogens. Therefore, hand hygiene represents the foundation of the HAI prevention process.
By applying certain simple prophylactic procedures, the quality of medical care increases, the risk of HAIs is diminished, and thus, morbidity and mortality due to these causes are reduced. Furthermore, hospitalization duration and additional costs are lowered.
The effectiveness of disinfection depends first and foremost on its correct performance, but also on the quality of the water, soap, and antiseptics used.
Recommendations for preventing contamination: fingernails must be kept as short as possible and clean, without nail polish; rings, bracelets, and watches must be removed; and appropriate protective equipment must be worn.
Hand hygiene saves between 5 and 8 million lives annually.
May 5 – World Hand Hygiene Day
The global campaign “SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands” was launched in 2009 by the WHO (World Health Organization), and since then, hundreds of countries have joined the program, including Romania.
Professor Didier Pittet (infectious disease physician) and his team developed the concept of “The Five Moments for Hand Hygiene,” training medical staff on the critical moments and the reasons why hand hygiene must be performed.
Five critical moments when hand hygiene must be performed
- Before touching a patient: to protect them from potential contamination with germs from our hands
- Before an aseptic procedure: to protect the patient from potential contamination with germs, as a result of medical procedures that can be “points of entry”
- After exposure to body fluids from the patient: for our own protection
- After touching a patient: for our own protection, the protection of subsequent patients, and of all people with whom we will come into contact
- After touching the patient's surroundings: for our own protection, the protection of the hospital environment, other patients, and colleagues.
Hand washing technique
Hand rubbing disinfection technique
In the Klintensiv portfolio you will find a series of products intended for the hygienic and surgical disinfection of hands and skin, dermatologically tested, with rapid action and sustained effect for at least 3 hours. There is a wide range of active ingredients (ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, chlorhexidine, phenols, povidone-iodine), and the finished products are available in several forms (hydroalcoholic solutions and gels, wipes, povidone-iodine solution, disinfectant and non-disinfectant soaps).
HYDROALCOHOLIC SOLUTIONS AND GELS
- Klintensiv Disinfectant Gel 85%
- Alchosept
- Dezidiol Spray
- Klintensiv Sanitary Alcohol 70%
- KlinAll Hand Disinfectant Gel
- KlinAll Hand Disinfectant Spray
WIPES
- Klintensiv Hand Disinfectant Wipes 85% Alcohol
- Klintensiv Hand Disinfectant Wipes
- Dezidiol Wipes
- KlinAll Hand Wipes 70% Alcohol
POVIDONE-IODINE SOLUTION
DISINFECTANT LIQUID SOAPS
NON-DISINFECTANT LIQUID SOAPS
- Klinsafe (intended for simple hand washing, but also for the general skin care of newborns)
- Aloe Vera Liquid Soap
- Coffee Liquid Soap
- Honey Liquid Soap
- Lilac Liquid Soap
- Chamomile Liquid Soap
Conclusions
Preventing healthcare-associated infections is an essential goal in the medical field, and hand hygiene is the cornerstone of this effort. By applying simple prophylactic procedures, one can improve the quality of medical care and significantly reduce the risk of these infections occurring. Disinfection efficiency is crucial and depends on the correct adherence to procedures, the quality of materials used, and medical staff awareness regarding the importance of hand hygiene. Recommendations for contamination prevention, including those related to critical moments for hand hygiene, are fundamental in this regard. World Hand Hygiene Day, celebrated on May 5, and the global awareness campaign have helped raise sensitivity and engagement among the medical community in this vital effort. It is essential for everyone involved in patient care to understand and respect the five critical moments for hand hygiene, thus contributing to saving millions of lives each year and improving patient safety worldwide.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
- https://www.apci.ro/2019/03/01/promovarea-igienei-mainilor-in-medicina-de-familie/
- https://anmcs.gov.ro/web/wp
- content/uploads/2020/03/OMS_Poster_5_momente_RO.pdf
- https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-hand-hygiene-day
- https://anmcs.gov.ro/web/
- https://anmcs.gov.ro/web/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/WHO_Poster_How_to_HandRub_RO.pdf
- https://klintensiv.ro/
