Hand Hygiene in Surgery Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Hand Hygiene in Surgery - Essay Example It is obvious that more washing and scrubbing damage ecology and health of the skin and harm resistance of the skin flora, rather than reducing the risk of harbouring and transmitting infectious agents. Taking into account the increase in vulnerable patient population, effort should be made to identify proper antiseptic products that provide adequate protection from transmission of infecting agents, at the same time that does not damage skin health. Recent studies propose use of alcohol-based hand rinses as an alternative to detergent-based antiseptic products, because they have 'rapid and broad-spectrum activity, excellent microbicidal characteristics, and lack of potential for emergence of resistance' as well as require no washing or drying. In addition, alcohol-based formulations are found to be superior to antiseptic detergents for rapid microbial killing potential and addition of appropriate moisturizers make it milder and skin friendly. Extensive studies of use of antimicrobial soaps and skin care products in skin hygiene and role of hand-washing in reducing rates of infection abound in number, whereas studies to assess benefits in reducing transmission of infection without added risk or cost of using antimicrobial soaps and to compare efficacy of aqueous alcohol based preparations over plain or antimicrobial soap and water are still in nascent stage. Since outbreaks of Surgical Sight Infections are linked with transmission of micro-organisms from surgical personnel to patients, policies and guidelines for strict adherence to the principles of asepsis by all surgical workers is paramount in preventing surgical site infections. Background: Surgery is aimed to eliminate suffering and prolong life and the principles of antisepses introduced by Joseph Lister in the late 1860s helped reduce 'post operative infectious morbidity'. Healthcare delivery system in the United States has undergone dramatic changes recently with the opening up avenues for long-term care, home-care, and managed-care industries, leading to decrease in number of acute-care facilities. Whereas, there is increase in hospital acquired infections proportionate with the increase of patients requiring intensive care in acute-care facilities, and the number of surgical procedures performed in outpatient settings or surgical centres. "Because of the severely ill and immunocompromised populations in these settings, prevention of infections and other adverse events is a major component of providing quality care." (Emerging Infectious Diseases 173). Despite improved operating room ventilation, sterilization methods, barriers, surgical technique, and availability of antimicrobial prophylaxis Surgical Sight Infection (SSI) is the most common nosocomial infection causing morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients all over the world. Hospitals are breeding ground for pathogens and spread of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, because of inefficient hand hygiene by hospital personnel and frequency of bacterial carriage by