Indications for Handwashing and Hand Antisepsis

 

Reasons to decontaminate the hands:

(1) before direct contact with a patient

(2) before donning sterile gloves when inserting a central intravascular catheter or performing a surgical procedure

(3) before inserting an indwelling urinary catheter, peripheral vascular catheter, or other invasive device

(4) after contact with a patient's intact skin

(5) after contact with body fluids, excretions, mucous membranes, nonintact skin, and wound dressings

(6) moving the hands from a contaminated body site to a clean site during patient care

(7) after contact with an inanimate object in the immediate vicinity of the patient

(8) after removing gloves

 

Reasons to wash the hands:

(1) before eating or drinking

(2) after using a restroom

(3) when hands are visibly dirty or contaminated with proteinaceous material, or visibly soiled with blood or other body fluid (prior to decontamination)

Situation	nonantimicrobial soap and water	antimicrobial soap and water	alcohol based hand rub
hands visibly dirty, contaminated or soiled	Yes	Yes
hands not visibly soiled		Yes	Yes
washing before eating	Yes (see below)	Yes
washing after using the restroom	Yes (see below)	Yes
exposure to Bacillus anthracis or bacteria with spores	Yes	Yes	No

 

where:

• Antimicrobial-impregnated towlettes or wipes can be used as an alternative to handwashing with nonantimicrobial soap and water before eating or after using the bathroom.