How does handwashing prevent infections?

Microorganisms on your skin can lead to infections. There are two types of microorganisms:

• Resident microorganisms live within the skin and are difficult to remove.
• Transient microorganisms acquired during daily living can be easily removed by handwashing with plain soap and water.

Handwashing:

• Reduces the number of infectious microorganisms on your hands
• Reduces client sickness and death caused by infections

Who is at risk?

Staff: During the work day, staff members may be exposed to blood and body fluids and acquire bloodborne diseases. In addition, their hands can easily become contaminated with disease-causing microorganisms. Staff members can infect themselves when their hands are contaminated and can also spread infections to coworkers by touching them or shared objects with contaminated hands.

Clients: Staff members can easily spread infections to clients if their hands are contaminated--especially when performing clinical procedures and physical examinations.

Community: If their hands are contaminated, or if they become infected from exposure to bloodborne diseases, staff members can spread infections to their partners, friends, or family members. Infections acquired by both clients and staff can lead to increased infections throughout the community, since these infections can continue to be passed on to others.

Handwashing significantly reduces the number of potentially infection-causing organisms on your hands and decreases the incidence of client sickness and death due to clinic-acquired infections.

©2004 EngenderHealth