Hi – 5 for
hand hygiene
Lucy Butler, Registered Nurse, ED Whakatāne
Hospital has a double movie pass in her hands
after winning the staff hand hygiene quiz held
recently.
Lucy correctly answered the multiple choice quiz on OnePlace for
World Hand Hygiene Day.
BOPDHB is part of a nationally run hand hygiene programme
where wards and departments are regularly audited against the '5
moments of hand hygiene'. Good hand hygiene, particularly when
it is performed immediately prior to invasive procedures, reduces
the risk of acquiring healthcare associated infections.
To test your knowledge, take the quiz below
open up the curtain to leave the bedspace.
b) After they close the curtain and immediately before they
touch the patient; then again after touching the patient
and before they open up the curtain to leave.
c) They don't need to clean their hands because they only
shook the patient's hand.
d) Before they pull the curtain around the bed; before they
touch the patent, and then again before they leave to pull
back the curtain.
1) What is the main way that bacteria are transferred
between patients?
a) On the hands of healthcare workers
b) Air circulating within the hospital
c) Touching doors and curtains
d) Sharing equipment between patients
e) All of the above
2) Why do we use alcohol based hand rub?
a) It lowers bacterial counts on hands more effectively than
hand washing
b) It takes less time than standard handwashing
c) It is less irritating to my skin than soap and water
d) It contains moisturisers which minimizes the risk of skin
irritation
e) All of the above
3) When should you wash your hands with soap and water?
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
If hands are visibly soiled
After going to the toilet
If there is no alcohol based hand rub in the room
After touching patients who have had diarrhoea
All of the above
4) A healthcare worker walks into a patient's room, pulls
the curtain around the bed, shakes their hand, talks
to them, then pulls back the curtain and leaves. They
should clean their hands:
a) Before they pull the curtain round the bed, and after they
Answers:
Question 1:
A: There is overwhelming evidence that organisms are primarily
transferred between patients on the hands of healthcare
workers.
Question 2:
E
Question 3:
E: Alcohol gel is not as effective if the hands are visibly soiled –
you must wash off the dirt with soap and water. Alcohol gel is
also not as effective at killing some organisms that patients
with diarrhoea may have.
Question4:
B: Curtains are considered to be potentially contaminated so
you need to clean your hands immediately before you touch
a patient, and then again after touching the patient and
before you open the curtains.
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