Bacteriological Aspects of Hand Washing: A Key for Health Promotion and Infections Control

Abstract

The aim of this review is to show the historical aspects of hands washing for healthy life and explains how can reduce the transmission of community-acquired infectious agents by healthcare workers and patients. This review article is prepared based on available database. The key words used were hands washing, risk assessment, hands hygiene, bacterial flora, contamination, infection, nosocomial, tap water, sanitizer, bacterial resistance, hands bacterial flora, washing methods, antiseptics, healthcare workers, healthcare personnel, from PubMed, ScienceDirect, Embase, Scopus, Web of Sciences, and Google Scholar. Data were descriptively analyzed. The insistence on hand washing has a history of 1400 years. The research results indicate that the bacteria released from the female washed hands in wet and dry condition was lower than from the male's hands with a significance level (3 CFU vs. 8 CFU; confidence interval 95%, P ≤ 0.001). The valuable results of the study indicated that released amount of bacterial flora from wet hands is more than 10 times in compared to dry hands. In addition, established monitoring systems for washing hands before and after patient's manipulation as well as after toilet were dominant indices to prevent the transfer of infectious agents to the patients. Increasing awareness and belief of the healthcare workers have shown an important role by about 30% reduction in the transfection. Hand washing could reduce the episodes of transmission of infectious agents in both community and healthcare settings. However, hand washing is an important key factor to prevent transmission of infectious agents to patients. There is no standard method for measuring compliance. Thus, permanent monitoring of hand washing to reduce the transmission of infections is crucial. Finally, the personnel must believe that hand washing is an inevitable approach to infection control.

Keywords: Bacterial flora; hand washing; healthcare worker; infection control.

Figure 1

Graphically, comparison presented the synchronization with the Lunar and Gregorian calendar. In the mid-17^th century AD, Anthonie Van Leeuwenhoek reported the presence of microorganisms. Then, Louis Pasteur (1822–1895), Joseph Lister (1827–1912), Ignaz Semmelweis (mid-18^th century), and Robert Koch (1843–1910) explained the Germ Theory. After that, (in early 19^th century) the importances of the hands washing were shown. Furthermore, after the Germ Theory, the pasteurization and sterilization were introduced

Figure 2

The results of bacteriological assay of subject five fingers sampling in the operating room is shown. Plate A: Culture of fingerprint before hand washing. Plate B: The bacterial culture results of the brain heart infusion broth extract of hand washing before hands scrubs. Plate D: The bacterial culture results of the brain heart infusion broth extract of hand washing after hands scrubs. Plate C: The results of fingerprinting after hand scrub. The differences of the colonies number on plate A, B, D, and C should have considered

Figure 3

How to rubbing the hands with detergent solution have shown. The blue flashes have shown the areas of hands that randomly have not affected with detergent. However, it must be careful that the detergent solution accuracy and uniformly distribute during hand washing. As the infection has left in the area showed and after the hands washing the remained contamination will quickly spread to another hands area

Figure 4

The hands areas of less scrubs and impact of the detergent solution has shown. The red areas are points of the hands that often left out of the affected of eluting (this picture was taken out from Google image search by fraise; hand washing methods and most frequently missed which is available on: http://image.slidesharecdn.com/slidesforhandhygienecoordinator-111120194340-phpapp02/95/hand-hygiene-practices-35-728.jpg?cb = 1321819019)

Figure 5

Inflammation and infection of the gum, as well as anterior teeth decay, are seen. Most people with mouth infection, pharyngitis, and tonsillitis are the sources of trans-infections. In addition, low level of oral cavity health condition is the important sources of hands contamination and transfer the infectious agent to others. Traditionally, some people are habiting to use toothpicks, in this way possibility of hands contamination taken place (this picture was taken out from Google image search by “mouth disease and teeth decay which available on: https://www.google.com/search?q and hl = en and tbm = isch and tbs = rimg%3ACdN32FuZwAF2IjiBcZWlXdNoTOpM2wI0CisvF9Co5oESlB2jz8eT1G8ahdWdv)

Figure 6

Place the palm of the hand on blood agar medium and incubated for 24 h in 37°C is shown. As can be seen, many bacteria have released on to the surface of bacterial culture media. It should have noted that few of the bacteria cause blood α or β hemolysis may be pathogenmeet

Figure 7

After refund, extra money all would be contaminants. Due to the fact, the products are from the farms that have been feed by animal manure. Therefore, varieties of fecal bacteria are as infecting agents. The manner in which these contaminations are transferred to community health centers