Hand hygiene guidelines
- CDC Guideline
- CDC, IHI Hand hygiene tool
- WHO Guidelines
- Alcohol-based hand rubs and surgical skin preps
CDC Guideline
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hand antisepsis reduces the incidence of healthcare-associated infections. The Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings published October 25, 2002 by the CDC provides specific recommendations to improve hand hygiene and reduce transmission of pathogenic microorganisms to patients and personnel in healthcare settings. The guideline includes reviews of new studies of the efficacy of alcohol-based hand rubs and the low incidence of dermatitis associated with their use. In addition, recent studies demonstrating the value of multidisciplinary hand hygiene promotion programs and the potential role of alcohol-based hand rubs in improving hand-hygiene practices are summarized. The guideline includes recommendations on related issues such the use of surgical hand antiseptics, hand lotions or creams, jewelry, gloving, and wearing of artificial fingernails. Ultimately, the CDC urges that adherence to recommended hand hygiene practices should become part of a culture of patient safety.
- Download a summary of the Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings. (.doc) (20.5 KB)
- Download the complete 494-page Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings. (.pdf) (495 KB)
- Download CDC hand hygiene fact sheet (.doc) (22 KB)
CDC, IHI Hand hygiene tool
An initiative to boost hand hygiene compliance to 100 percent using behavior-modification techniques, "best practice" guidelines, and rigorous program compliance was launched in early April by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in collaboration with the nonprofit Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and two leading infection-control professional societies – the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA).
The tool details a "hand hygiene intervention package," which reviews a group of best practices to use individually or together to improve care. The document also gives a "how-to" for beginning improvement in healthcare organizations through the institution of a multidisciplinary team approach. It addresses barriers to implementing a program, provides checklists for hand hygiene materials and a questionnaire for surveying clinical staff of their knowledge of hand hygiene.
Hand hygiene tool (.pdf) (230 KB)
WHO Guidelines (2005)
World Health Organization - "WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care" (advanced draft) (New!)
WHO - World Alliance For Patient Safety has launched a Global Patient Safety Challenge for 2005 - 2006. "Clean Care is Safer Care." The advanced, comprehensive hand hygiene guidelines are being tested in all global regions before being finalized.
WHO Hand hygiene draft guidelines (.pdf) (4.3 MB)
Alcohol-based hand rubs and surgical skin preps
Given the volume of regulatory activity and interest in alcohol-based products, Codes and regulations and all news links are provided in reverse chronological order, beginning with most recent regulation or story in two areas: Alcohol-based hand rubs (ABHR) used by healthcare workers, and alcohol-based surgical skin preps used on patients.
ABHR
Codes and regulations
- IFC approves aerosol ABHR as well as gel, May 28, 2007 (43 KB) New
- CMS and The Joint Commission Define Installation Criteria of Alcohol-Based Hand Rub Dispensers, March 21, 2007 (1.44 MB) New
- CMS S&C Letter Provisions of the final rule re: ABHR Smoke alarms Nov 2006 (.doc) 9152 KB)
- CMS-JCAHO agree gels equal foam 3 2006 (.pdf) (162 KB)
- CMS Alcohol hand gel regulation Federal Register September 22, 2006 (.pdf) ( 124 KB)
- CMS S&C Letter 5-33 (3) Provision of Interim Final Rule 2005 (.pdf) (608 KB)
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CMS Alcohol hand gel regulation Federal Register March 25, 2005
(.pdf) (96 KB) - NFPA 101 - Life Safety Code, 2000 Edition. TIA 00-1 (.pdf) (43 KB)
- NFPA 101 - Life Safety Code, 2003 Edition. TIA 03-6 (.pdf) (42 KB)
- NFPA Final Official Notice. SC 04-4-17 (.pdf) (30 KB)
- ICC /IFC Approval 10 2005 (.pdf) (82 KB)
- ICC/IFC Amendment 04 2005 (.doc) (55 KB)
ABHR Bulletins and Safety Share links
- Drying hands after use of alcohol hand rubs reduces risk of sparks from static (5/06)
- JCAHO clarifies position on alcohol hand sanitizers – foam and gel now permitted in corridors (3/15/06)
- Fire protection agencies agree on permitting hand sanitizers in corridors (11/05)
- Regulators agree on alcohol-based hand rub dispensers in hallways (12/04)
- VA hospitals take a stand on alcohol hand rub dispensers in hallways (2/04)
- AHA-ASHE-CDC collaborate with fire safety experts on alcohol-based hand rubs – code changes likely (9/16/03)
- JCAHO, others, agree on use of alcohol-based hand cleaners (5/03)
- CDC highlights alcohol-based hand rubs in new guidelines (11/02)
Surgical skin preps
Codes and Regulations
- CMS S&C Letter Jan 2007 (.pdf) (60 KB)
- NFPA99 TIAsurgical prep as approved 8 05 (.pdf) (26 KB)
- NFPA99TIA surgical prep with justification 4 05 (.pdf) (190 KB)