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H A N D
A N T I S E P S I S
hand hygiene compliance. The No. 1 challenge? Rubs dry out hands
(38.2%), followed by the time it takes to use the rub (13.3%), location
of dispensers (13.3%) and the feel of the rub on the skin (10.3%). "Our
challenge is getting
surgeons to actually
do the complete
process with the
waterless scrub," says
Patricia Huber, MA,
RN, nurse manager of
perioperative services
at the Jack C.
Montgomery VA
Medical Center in
SKIN KINDNESS You're unlikely to achieve the desired level of antimicrobial
antisepsis if you don't use waterless hand rubs properly.
Muskogee, Okla.
Yes, it's true that "if
TROUBLE WITH WATERLESS PRODUCTS
Watch Out for These
they like it, they will
Hand- Washing Shortcuts
use it" — but only if
ou may go through gallons of waterless
you make it convenalcohol-based hand rub agents each
ient for your OR team
month, but there's no guarantee that your
to use the rub. Have
OR team is using them properly. Here are 4 shortas many gel or foam
cuts that could short circuit your hand hygiene
dispensers available
compliance:
in as many strategic
1. Not routinely performing a pre-wash.
locations as possible,
2. Using less than the specified amount of product. especially in the hall3. Not rubbing the product into the skin until dry.
ways by the doorways
4. Using a towel to aid drying.
outside each patient— Dan O'Connor care area (pre-op bay,
OR, PACU bay), and
Y
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O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | D E C E M B E R 2013
