RLO: Hand Hygiene

Resources

Glossary

• Air-borne - Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is present in dust particles and skin scales which spread in the air.
• Blood – is a reservoir of viruses such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.
• Bodily Fluids – infections such as Clostridium difficile are present in diarrhoea and Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) can be found in wounds, sputum and urine.
• Cross-infection – occurs when an infection spreads from one site to another. In a healthcare setting, cross-infection occurs when Patient A becomes infected with the germs from Patient B.
• Direct Contact – Micro-organisms may transfer onto the hands of healthcare workers if they touch a reservoir of infection, for example a blood spillage or an infected wound. The hands become transiently contaminated, and further direct contact with a susceptible patient surface, for example an open wound or a cannula site, may result in transfer of the disease-causing microbes.
• Droplet – The common cold, flu and pulmonary tuberculosis are spread by droplet infection, for example in coughs and sneezes.
• Faecal-oral Route - Enteric diseases spread by faecal-oral ingestion include Clostridium difficile, viral gastroenteritis and Salmonella.
• HAI – stands for Healthcare Acquired Infection. It refers to the introduction of disease-causing micro-organisms as a direct result of healthcare. The transfer of these micro-organisms between patients is commonly due to direct contact and subsequent carriage of the micro-organisms by the hands.
• Pathogen – disease causing micro-organism.
• Skin – Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) and Streptococcus A are common micro-organisms causing infections on wounds and skin.
• Transient Contamination – occurs when hands pick up disease-causing micro-organisms and carry them temporarily. They can be washed off, killed with alcohol-based handrub or transferred to a susceptible site on a patient, for example a cannula site or an open wound, thus causing disease.
• Wounds – Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) and Streptococcus A are common micro-organisms causing infections on wounds and skin.