Far better than washing your hands would be to use an alcohol sanitising
rub. Frequent hand washing is a common cause of occupational contact
dermatitis and should be limited to those situations where skin is soiled
with organic matter or where there is a specific requirement, e.g. where
C.difficile spores are an issue. Even if there is no visible sign of skin
damage the sub-clinical damage will facilitate the colonisation of
transient, potentially infective, bacteria on the skin. Sub-clinically
damaged skin can also predispose to sensitisation and allergy.
A foam type alcohol sanitiser will not damage the skin but will actually
improve skin condition. You might experience a stinging sensation when you
start to use the sanitiser, but this is not the sanitiser causing skin
damage, merely the response of already sub-clinically damaged skin. The
alcohol sanitiser has been shown to be more effective at preventing cross
infection and works quickly. Avoid the non-alcohol sanitising rubs as these
contain chemicals that can be sensitisers.
When I did a risk assessment for someone for this type of activity there was
no case for wearing gloves, unless you have clinically damaged skin, when
contamination by the patient's blood would be a potential problem. Wearing
of occlusive gloves is similar in its effect on the skin as having one's
hands in water, except that the damage is actually greater.
If you want more on this then contact me off list.
Chris
Chris Packham
FRSPH, FIIRSM, FInstSMM, MCMI, RSP, MBICSc
EnviroDerm Services
Unit 10, Building 11, The Mews, Mitcheldean, GL17 0SN
Tel: 01386 832 311
www.enviroderm.co.uk
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