Breaking the chain of cross infection

Nurse Barley is using a good technique. She has removed her watch and rings. She wets her hands before applying a liquid soap. She is rubbing vigorously for 10-15 seconds ensuring she covers every surface of her hands and wrists. The areas between the fingers, the finger tips and thumbs are commonly missed areas. She finishes with a thorough rinse and a thorough dry.

An alcohol-based handrub is a good alternative to hand washing when there is no visible soiling of the hands. It is also effective at killing micro-organisms such as Methicillin Resistant Staphyloccocus Aureus (MRSA).