The 6-step disinfection
Before hand disinfection, it is advisable to remove jewelry on the hands, for example rings, and watches. Applied nail polish can also form suitable nesting places for germs and can thus reduce the effect of hand disinfection. Furthermore, it is recommended to operate the disinfectant dispenser with the elbow and not with the hand.
For hygienic hand disinfection, about 3-5 ml of the disinfectant (2 to 3 strokes) are rubbed on the entire hands for at least 30 seconds. To ensure that both the fingertips and the spaces between the fingers are cleaned, hand disinfection is divided into six steps: Surgical hand disinfection requires disinfecting the entire forearm up to the elbow. In contrast to hygienic disinfection, surgical hand disinfection should take at least 1.5 to 3 minutes.
The six steps of hand disinfection are also performed repeatedly one after the other during surgical disinfection. In addition, the hands should always be kept above elbow level during and after disinfection so that the liquid flows away from the hands to the elbow. If this is not observed, the disinfectant flows back towards the hands that have been cleaned most intensively and must be the most sterile, and there is a risk that germs from the elbow will again contaminate the palms of the hands.
Hand disinfection is complete when the disinfectant distributed is completely dry in all areas. Frequent hand disinfection causes the skin to be degreased and attacked by alcohol. Mostly, disinfectants contain re-greasing components.
Nevertheless, adequate skin care of the hands should be observed.
- The hand disinfectant is given into the palm. Then the palms of the hands are rubbed together.
- The next step is to place the left palm of the hand with spread fingers over the back of the right hand and spread the disinfectant well by rubbing the hands together. In the following, this process is reversed and the right palm is placed over the back of the left hand.
- Now place palm to palm again and rub both hands together with crossed, spread fingers.
- The next step is to interlock the hands by rubbing the outside of the fingers against the opposite palm.
- To thoroughly disinfect the thumb, grasp it with the other hand and circle the entire thumb with the opposite palm.
- In the last step, circular movements are performed with the closed fingertips in the opposite palm of the hand.
