4
Recommendations
Table 1. Recommendations to Prevent Healthcare-
Associated Infections through Hand Hygiene
3. Ensure the accessibility of hand hygiene supplies. (H)
a. Ensure that ABHS dispensers are unambiguous, visible, and accessible within
the workflow of HCP. (H)
b. In private rooms, consider 2 ABHS dispensers the minimum threshold for
adequate numbers of dispensers: 1 dispenser in the hallway, and 1 in the patient
room. (H)
c. In semiprivate rooms, suites, bays, and other multi-patient bed configurations,
consider 1 dispenser per 2 beds the minimum threshold for adequate numbers of
dispensers. Place ABHS dispensers in the workflow of HCP. (L)
d. Ensure that the placement of hand hygiene supplies (e.g., individual pocket-sized
dispensers, bed-mounted ABHS dispenser, single-use pump bottles) is easily
accessible for HCP in all areas where patients receive care. (H)
e. Evaluate the risk of intentional consumption. Utilize dispensers that mitigate
this risk, such as wall-mounted dispensers that allow limited numbers of
activations within short periods (e.g., 5 seconds). (L)
f. Have surgical hand rub and scrub available in perioperative areas. (H)
g. Consider providing ABHS hand rubs or handwash with US Food and Drug
Administration (FDA)-approved antiseptics for use in procedural areas and
prior to high-risk bedside procedures (e.g., central-line insertion). (L)
4. Ensure appropriate glove use to reduce hand and environmental contamination. (H)
a. Use gloves for all contact with the patient and environment as indicated by
standard and contact precautions during care of individuals with organisms
confirmed to be less susceptible to biocides (e.g., C. difficile, norovirus).
b. Educate HCP about the potential for self-contamination and environmental
contamination when gloves are worn. (H)
c. Clean hands immediately following glove removal. If handwashing is indicated
and sinks are not immediately available, use ABHS and then wash hands as soon
as possible.
d. Educate and confirm the ability of HCP to doff gloves in a manner that avoids
contamination. (H)
(cont'd)
