When should hand hygiene be performed by healthcare workers?

Hand hygiene is a critical practice in the healthcare environment to prevent the spread of infections. The appropriate times for healthcare workers to perform hand hygiene include before and after patient contact, after removing gloves, and before performing any invasive procedures. This practice ensures that pathogens are not transferred between healthcare workers and patients, thus protecting both parties from potential infections.

Performing hand hygiene before patient contact helps to eliminate any microorganisms that may have been acquired from prior patient interactions, surfaces, or equipment. After patient contact, hand hygiene removes any pathogens that may have been transferred during the interaction. Additionally, hand hygiene after removing gloves is essential because gloves can have micro-tears, and pathogens may reside on the outer surface. Finally, practicing hand hygiene before invasive procedures is vital to reduce surgical site infections and other complications that can arise from contamination.

This comprehensive approach to hand hygiene is aligned with infection control guidelines and is essential for maintaining a safe healthcare environment.