Page 13 - Impression June 2020

JOHNS HOPKINS HEALTH SYSTEM

HAND HYGIENE POLICY | Key Points for Staff

Hand hygiene is one of the important measures in the prevention of health
care-associated infections and spread of communicable diseases among patients, family
members, visitors and personnel.

WHAT YOU Hand hygiene with either alcohol-based

NEED TO hand sanitizer or soap and water is

KNOW required:
• Upon entering and leaving a patient room or
A new Johns Hopkins direct patient care area
Medicine Hand Hygiene • Before and after touching a patient
policy (HEIC004) takes • Before clean/aseptic procedures
effect across the health • After blood, body fluid exposure/risk
system on June 15, • After touching patient surroundings
2020. The policy applies • Before and after handling an invasive device.
to all Johns Hopkins • Before handling food or medication, or after
Medicine hospitals, handling lab specimens.
home-based services, • When carrying supplies, dietary trays or
outpatient clinics, Johns transporting a patient into or out of a room;
Hopkins HealthCare hand hygiene is required as soon as hands
and ambulatory are free.
surgery centers. • Any time as needed, such as after sneezing

or coughing.

Soap and water hand washing is required:
• Any time hands are visibly soiled.
• After using the restroom.
• When a buildup of alcohol-based hand sanitizer can be felt
on the hands.
• After caring for a patient with suspected or known
Clostridioides difficile, Norovirus or Rotovirus.

Special Considerations:
• Staff with non-intact skin or conditions that prevent proper hand hygiene must be
referred to the entity’s Occupational Health Department for assessment.
• Fingernails:
• Any individual whose responsibilities include direct, hands-on patient contact,
handling of sterile supplies, or working in sterile processing or high-level
disinfection (e.g., scope reprocessing):
• Shall have natural fingernails with fingernail lengths that do not to exceed one-
fourth of an inch beyond the fingertip.
• Artificial fingernails and nail enhancements including, but not limited to
overlays, wraps, tips or attached decorations (e.g., nail wraps, rhinestones) are
NOT permitted for these individuals.
• Nail polish without extensions is permitted for individuals whose
responsibilities do not include working in sterile processing or high-level
disinfection (e.g., scope reprocessing). Nail polish must be in good repair
without cracks, chips or nail-growth gap.
• Please note, certain departments and Johns Hopkins facilities may have stricter
requirements.
INF2005037

For questions related to this policy, please email
HEIC at heic@jhmi.edu