Is there any proof that hand washing can reduce the risk of contracting nosocomial infections?

Answer 1

Yes, and no. It depends on whose hands you consider, how well the proper hand washing procedures are followed, plus how thorough the housekeeping staff is when cleaning rooms each day and especially after a patient leaves before someone else occupies the bed. Scientific studies do show that proper hand washing can reduce the spread of nosocomial infections.

However, having said that, probably the most important factor is that ALL staff should wash hands (or use hand sanitizer) before AND after contact with each patient and frequently during the day. Family members and friends visiting patients should also wash hands when entering and leaving the patient room. Gloves do help control infection spread, but can be relied on too heavily and then the hand washing (or sanitizing) may be skipped.

All surfaces and bed rails, call buttons, TV controllers, drawer handles, toilet handles, chair arms, wheel chair arms and handles, and any surfaces that anyone touches on the wheel chairs, like brake handles, etc., should be thoroughly cleaned by housekeeping staff before a new person occupies the room or uses the equipment. Unfortunately, it has been my experience, as a patient family member and as an RN, that this is not always done or not always done correctly. When any link in the chain of infection control is broken, then all the other precautions can become insignificant or totally moot.

I always take it upon myself as patient family to clean those most likely germ-contaminated items and surfaces as soon as my family patient is in the room and before any of us touch anything, if at all possible. Often there are sanitizing wipes available right in the room (if not, ask a nurse for some or for sanitizing germicidal sprays). Wear gloves before touching the wipes since the chemicals can be irritating to sensitive skin.

If I see equipment or something not thoroughly cleaned or left dirty before staff bring it into the room (IV poles, etc.), I ask the charge nurse to have it removed or cleaned before left in the room or used. If my family member happens to have an infection and I see a link in the chain broken, I report that to the ID (Infectious Disease) physician consultant as well as the attending physician on the case.

It is sad that patients and their families must be cognizant of, and ready to intervene themselves in, infection control measures and how well they are followed. But with antibiotic resistant bacteria (such as MRSA) so prevalent in health care facilities nowadays, and so deadly, I feel it is a necessary part of supporting the wellness of my family and friends, AND myself.