Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing
Volume 24, Issue 4 , Pages 250-253, August 2009

PACU—Why Hand Washing Is Vital!

  • William Clayton Petty, MD, Guest Columnist

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence to Dr Clayton Petty, P.O. Box 716, Cedar City, UT 84721

Hand washing is one of the oldest methods of reducing infections. Recent evidence based research has re-confirmed the efficacy of proper hand hygiene and recommendations for hand hygiene by the CDC and WHO are outlined. The PACU is a unique environment; patients are in a “cross-road of infection;” many patients are exposed to infections coming from various wards brought to the PACU through the OR. The PACU nurse is not only responsible for observing and monitoring the patient's vital signs but is also responsible for making sure patients are not exposed to an additional risk, e.g. a hand-transmitted infection.

Keywords: hand washing, hand hygeine, preventing infections, MRSA, improving hand-hygeine compliance

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 The author reports no conflict of interest.

PII: S1089-9472(09)00254-8

doi:10.1016/j.jopan.2009.05.101

Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing
Volume 24, Issue 4 , Pages 250-253, August 2009

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