Handwashing ?

Nursing Students Student Assist

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We had a take home assignment for Infection Control. I was wondering if anyone could tell me the correct answer for this question about hand washing.

For routine client care, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend vigorous hand washing under a stream of water for at least

a. 10 seconds

b. 30 seconds

c. 1 minute

d. 2 minutes

I am a little confused b/c in the text book it doesn't have CDC recommendations (it only says that the CDC recommends use of alcohol-based antiseptic hand rubs for use before and after direct client contact because soap and water are inadequate to sufficiently remove pathogens. It only states the World Health Organization which recommends hand washing under a stream of water for at least 20 seconds using soap.

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I'd go with B.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

That's weird. Read this, last paragraph:

http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r2k0306c.htm

"Handwashing can prevent the transfer of germs in all five of these scenarios. CDC recommends vigorous scrubbing with warm, soapy water for at least 15 seconds."

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Specializes in RN- Med/surg.

I was going to say..we were taught 15...but that wasn't a choice. I'd opt for longer though rather than less.

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we were also taught for 15 secs.. but I'll go with B as well.. I guess..

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

reidesert. . .I'm a little curious where your test may have originated. Since you know I went to your school of nursing many years ago, I have a very clear memory of one of our very first lessons being in handwashing and being told that we were to wash our hands for 30 seconds. I practiced this diligently to the point that I developed a severe skin problem at the time from all the hand washing and timing how long I was doing it. The newer guidelines are for 15 or 20 seconds so I'm wondering if this is an older test. I've looked at several documents on the CDC website and the National Guidelines Clearinghouse and they are all saying a 15 or 20 second scrub and these are current as of 2002 or 2005.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

I'm sitting in my CNA class at the moment. We were just taught to wash for 30-60 seconds so I'd also pick "B"

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I am going to have to disagree. I just had my first lab yesterday (6 hours!!!) and we were taught that the CDC guidelines require at least 10-15 seconds. While it is impossible to wash your hands properly in either of those times, 10 seconds is what we were taught as a minimum. Let us know what you get on the test.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

Well, CDC says "It is best to wash your hands with soap and clean running water for 20 seconds" on their website (www.cdc.gov/cleanhands)

Can you pick A-1/2? ;)

I'd still pick B.

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I would take "at least" to mean "a minimum of" which is 10 seconds.

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my textbook says

" wash hands for a minumum of 15 seconds"

(when hand washing before sterile techniques "Larson (1996) recommends that at least two minutes of friction be used for surgical hand washing." - this is from Fundamentals of Nursing)

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