Infection prevention and control - Royal Marsden Manual of Clinical ...

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Infection prevention and control
Procedure guideline 3.2 Hand decontamination using alcohol handrub
Essential equipment
■ Alcohol-based handrub
Procedure
Action Rationale
1 Dispense the amount of handrub indicated in the
Too much handrub will take longer to dry and may
manufacturer’s instructions into the palm of one hand. consequently cause delays; too little will not decontaminate
hands adequately. E
2 Rub the alcohol handrub into all areas of the hands,
until the hands are dry, using the illustrated actions
in Action Figure 2 .
1
4
7
Apply a small amount
(about 3 ml) of the product
in a cupped hand
Rub palm to palm with
fingers interlaced
Rub tips of fingers in opposite
palm in a circular motion
2
5
8
10
Rub hands together
palm to palm, spreading the
handrub over the hands
Rub back of fingers
to opposing palms with
fingers interlocked
Rub each wrist with
opposite hand
The process should take
15–30 seconds
To ensure all areas of the hands are cleaned. Alcohol is a
rapid-acting disinfectant, with the added advantage that it
evaporates, leaving the hands dry. This prevents contamination
of equipment, whilst facilitating the application of
gloves ( WHO 2009 , C , E ).
3
6
9
Rub back of each hand
with palm of other hand
with fingers interlaced
Rub each thumb clasped
in opposite hand using a
rotational movement
Wait until product has
evaporated and hands are dry
(do not use paper towels)
Action Figure 2 Alcohol handrub hand hygiene technique – for visibly clean hands. Adapted
from WHO (2009). © Crown copyright. Reproduced under the terms of the Click-use Licence.