Hand treatment: Handling levels of the medical worker's hands, rules, preparations

To prevent the spread of diseases and microbes is possible with such a simple procedure as hand treatment. Levels of hand treatment depend on the level of human contact with potential hazards, as well as the professional activities that are carried out by him. The rules for such disinfection should be familiar not only to every professional medical worker, but also to the common man in the street.

Kinds of microflora

What is the method of hand treatment? The levels of hand treatment depend on the tasks and work performed by the medical officer. Since it is not possible to completely clean the skin of pathogenic bacteria, its disinfection must be carried out on an ongoing basis. For general familiarization, it is necessary to provide a basic classification of microflora:

• It's normal. It presupposes the presence of permanently living and multiplying microorganisms that do not affect people in a negative way. Their presence ensures the formation of antibodies that prevent the formation of gram-negative bacteria. Normal microflora is not destroyed in its entirety by cleaning agents or antiseptics.
• Transit. Observed with medical personnel (or any other people) when contacting infected people or objects. It is subdivided into two additional directions - pathogenic (causes disease), conditionally pathogenic (provokes defeat only under the condition of a certain factor). In addition, there is another separate subgroup - opportunistic microorganisms, which affect only persons with weakened immunity.

It should be noted that on the skin of the hands there are the most problematic areas, which are difficult to clean from such contaminants. These include rollers near the nails and the space under the fingernails, as well as the gaps between the toes.

The first ways of processing hands appeared and began to be used in the middle of the 19th century. So, first, a solution of phenol was used for disinfection. It is now customary to practice a few different methods.

Classification of skin disinfection methods

So, how exactly is the classification of such a procedure as hand treatment? Levels of hand treatment are represented by three types of manipulation:

• Conventional processing.
• Hygienic treatment.
• Surgical treatment.

Let's analyze the features of each method in a little more detail.

First stage

Ordinary washing is the simplest and most accessible method of purification. Its task is to remove dirt and a number of bacteria that are transported from dirty surfaces and infected people. Medical professionals wash their hands before starting work, after receiving a patient, changing clothes, as well as switching to another office or other place of work. For the procedure can be used:

• The soap is liquid, optimally with an individual dispenser. It is used twice for one wash.
• Soap hard, less desirable, between applications should dry up, also applied twice.

Efficiency of simple washing makes no more than 70 percent at double repetition and no more than 40 percent at single. Before the procedure, it is recommended to remove all jewelry and watches, and clean the cleaner thoroughly in the skin, then completely wash off and repeat the manipulations. The soap used should not contain additional flavors or coloring agents, it should be neutral.

The second stage

Treatment of the hands of medical personnel is often carried out hygienically. It is carried out, as a rule, in the following cases:

• Before examination or contact with the patient.
• Contact with biological fluids.
• Before and after using disposable gloves.
• When staging various types of catheters, as well as after the sound manipulations.
• When carrying out manipulations for the care of the patient, and also after their completion.
• After contact with the equipment used for treatment and diagnosis.
• In other potentially dangerous cases of microbial contamination.

Such hygienic treatment involves two stages. In the first stage, classical hand washing is carried out, and disinfection with an alcohol-containing antiseptic is added to the second stage.

Hygienic or medical treatment of hands can be carried out with the help of antiseptics of the following types:

• Bactericidal soap (in liquid form).
• Alcohol solutions designed specifically for the treatment of skin.
• Bactericidal gel.

The product without alcohol is applied to wet skin on average in an amount of 3 to 5 milliliters. Means that have an alcohol base, are used under the condition of dry skin, they need to be rubbed for about 15-20 seconds. To the antiseptic, it is allowed to add a small amount of glycerin or lanolin to soften the skin and prevent it from drying out.

The third stage

Surgical treatment of the hands is the third and most total method of disinfection. Its conduct is relevant for all participants of surgical intervention. It is carried out according to the following algorithm:

• Hand washing. Lasts for 2 minutes, after the treatment of the skin it is necessary to dry it with sterile material.
• Application of antiseptic. With his help, the hands, wrists, and forearms are handled. There are special norms for the number of its use, as well as the frequency of application.

It should be noted that surgical treatment of the hands can be carried out exclusively with antiseptics, which have alcohol in the composition. These include the following drugs:

• "AHD-2000".
• "AHD-2000 Special."
• "Decocept".
• "Lysannin" and others.

Treatment with substantial contamination

Separately, it is necessary to touch upon the question of how the hands of the medical personnel undergo treatment when the patient's blood gets on them. If the biological fluid is directly on the skin, you need to act according to the following algorithm:

• Remove the contamination with a tissue.
• Cleanse the skin with soap and water.
• Dry the affected area with a disposable, sterile cloth.
• Double treatment with an alcoholic antiseptic.

If the contamination has got on the surface of the glove, the procedure of action undergoes certain changes. They are represented by the following scheme:

• Removing contamination from the material with a disinfectant wipe.
• Wash hands in gloves with water.
• Removal of gloves.
• Washing hands with soap, drying.
• A single application of antiseptic for the treatment of the skin of hands.

Basic recommendations

There are also general rules for the processing of hands. They are reduced to the following requirements and recommendations:

• When washing hands, try to stay away from the sink so as not to splash clothes with water jets.
• Use of soap should ensure the formation of abundant foam.
• Water for hygienic procedures should have a comfortable temperature (about 36 to 40 degrees).
• Pay special attention to problem areas, where the largest number of bacteria and harmful microorganisms accumulate.
• Rinse your hands so that water flows from your fingers to your wrist, and not vice versa.
• Do not leave soap residue on the skin.
• Use for drying disposable, not reusable towels or napkins, with their help close the tap after the procedures.

Types of drugs

How to choose the right antiseptic for hand treatment? When choosing a particular tool, use the following guidelines:

• Soap without antimicrobial additives. Slightly reduces the activity and the number of microbes, has no residual effect, cleans well of carrying bacteria.
• Antiseptics without alcohol. They are a universal agent with moderate efficacy, reduce the number of microbes and carrier bacteria, while they have little residual effect. With constant application, the quality of their action is enhanced.
• Antiseptics with alcohol. The most effective against microbes, have a moderate effect against the carrier bacteria, do not have a residual effect.

Of course, medical professionals have specific documents that prescribe how hand treatment should be carried out. Hand treatment levels determine the type of drug used for disinfection. For an example, let us dwell in more detail on the means for surgical treatment:

• Alcohols. The optimal solution is 70% ethyl. Excellent help from gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, affect individual viruses and fungi.
• Solutions based on iodine and alcohol - a wide range of effects. They help from bacteria, including pathogens of tuberculosis, spores, viruses, protozoa, and fungi.
• Iodophores. They help from rotoviruses, herpes, HIV infection, staphylococci and spores.
• Chlorhexidine. Has a narrower spectrum of action, is aimed at gram-positive bacteria, individual categories of fungi.