HAND HYGIENIZATION BY NURSING PROFESSIONALS: A BIBLIOGRAPHIC REVIEW

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.1594452414055

• Palavras-chave: Hand hygiene, hospital infection.

• Keywords: Hand hygiene, hospital infection.

• Abstract: Considering that the hands of healthcare professionals are the main means of spreading cross-infections, it is imperative to emphasize the importance of adequate hand hygiene in hospital practice. This crucial measure must be implemented in all assistance instances to more effectively control this problem. The study focuses on the relevance of correct hand washing, addressing its influence on the quality of care, safeguarding the patient and the well-being of the healthcare professional. To support the research, a comprehensive bibliographic review was carried out in the DeCS, BVS and Scielo databases, using keywords such as: Hand hygiene and hospital infection. 20 articles on the topic were identified, of which, after thorough analysis, 5 were selected to be part of the research. The results highlight that hand hygiene opportunities contribute significantly to the patient safety culture. However, low adherence by the nursing team to awareness campaigns is observed, associated with an increase in contaminants among professionals in this category. In this context, it becomes clear that initiatives such as continuous educational campaigns are essential to promote the practice of hand hygiene, resulting in a substantial reduction in the risk of cross-contamination.