HANDS HYGIENE AND PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT – MONITORING OF THEIR APPLICATION IN THE NURSES' CLINICAL PRACTICE

Abstract

Purpose: Health care-associated infections (HCAIs) are considered infections that are contracted by the patient in connection to the medical service of another disease. The mechanism of transmitting microorganisms via contact is the most important and common one of disease transmission. This research aims to monitor activities requiring hand disinfection and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by the nurses in a real hospital environment. Material and methods: The research is held in May 2019 via a secretly structured monitoring in natural conditions at four wards in the University Hospital Kanev Ltd, Ruse, Bulgaria, on randomly selected weekdays. Results: A total of 320 procedures of the nurse's daily activity are being monitored, which are connected to infections with both blood and body fluids, as well as the risk of looking after patients who are unable to look after themselves. In the Ward of Orthopedics and Traumatology, gloves are being used in all of the monitored activities, but after contact with a patient, only the hands are being washed. When expected to be contaminated with blood and body fluids, the nurses don't always use gloves and also don't always disinfect their hands before aseptic procedures and when they bandage a wound. Conclusions: The nurses don't follow the requirements for hygienic handwashing and the use of PPE. The goal of the current research was not about explaining whether this is due to a lack of knowledge of cases where the use of gloves or protective equipment is required and how and when the hands are washed.

Keywords

• personal protective equipment
• health care-associated infections
• nurse
• medical service
• handwashing
• medical gloves
• hospital environment