Complying with Hygiene Guidelines

Complying with Hygiene Guidelines

Introduction

Hand hygiene is the most important measure to prevent the spread of germs and preventing infections associated with health care. Primary care is undergoing continuous changes in the supply health, increasing its portfolio of services providing care and attention every time more complex and technical, many of them traditionally made in the field hospital. Factors such as patient preferences to stay and be treated at home, advances in technology as well as sustainability and efficiency of services have contributed to this change (Boyce & Pittet, 2002). Traditionally it was considered that the risk for infections in primary care is low, however, there is no research to support this assumption and as more invasive procedures performed in this field, workers and patients in this care setting are at risk of development and transmission of infections. In the United Kingdom has already published a study demonstrating the risk of cross infection secondary to inadequate hand decontamination in homes patients. In a recent national study of adverse events in primary care, events related adverse infection associated with healthcare weigh negligible (8.4%), together with a procedure-related events (10.7%), and related medication (47.7%) (WHO Guidelines, 2005).

Discussion

The first consultation on the working group has been the completion of a form, which then lists the most relevant results obtained in each section. The information provided by this working group for hand hygiene has contributed to the development of teaching materials and this guide “Implementing Practice Safe Hand Hygiene in Primary Care”.

The most relevant results are:

Risk practices or procedures identified: The procedures identified higher risk for infections associated with care in primary care are: Cures, minor surgery, sutures and urinary catheter.

Areas of Risk: The risk areas considered most at risk for infections associated with care in primary care are: Emergency consultations, ...