How long do you wash your hands... Really!

[graeme]

I know hygiene is an essential part of keeping infections at bay but...

My PD nurses and instructions tell me to wash my hands, for one minute after collecting all equipment and then after setting the gear up, to put on a face mask and wash hands for 3 minutes and then connect, removing facemask after connecting... Also use Chlorhexidine hand lotion regularly prior to connect and disconnecting... This all makes sense but I have trouble keeping to the 3 minute handwash and if I timed it I reckon I'd probably make just one and a half minutes.

I feel that I am being very cautious and cleaning my hands thoroughly but I'm not doing the 3 minutes... is the 3 minutes overkill and are the nurses (or the people who set the rules) just covering all bases to make sure we understand that handwashing is important?

[petey]

When my husband Marvin trained for PD and then later for home hemo, both sets of training nurses recommended that we wash our hands (and also Marvin's fistula arm, now) with warm, soapy water for the amount of time it takes us to sing "Happy Birthday to You" twice all the way through.  I don't know exactly how long this is, but it works for us.

[peleroja]

I never wash my hands, just use the alcohol wipes they give me.  I've heard that antibacterial soap is overkill cuz the germs just get used to it.

[kellyt]

I've heard to sing Happy Birthday twice, as well.  I believe that's like 20 seconds.  Also, you should wash all the way up to the wrists.

I was told the same thing about the anti-bacterial soap.  I have liquid anti-bacterial soap in both bathrooms, as well as one at my kitchen sink.  I currently have an anti-bacterial soap in the shower, but I don't always have anti-bacterial in the shower.  I use the froo- froo smelly good soap most of the time.

I wash my hands when I return home from anywhere or when I've been outside or in the garage.  And I have made attempts (with good success) at keeping my hands away from my face, eyes and mouth.

[petey]

...forgot to add that I have "Germ-X" (alcohol-based hand sanitizer) EVERYWHERE in our house (pump bottles -- by the front door, by the kitchen sink, in the bathroom, and two in Marvin's home hemo "clinic").  I also have a travel-sized bottle in my pocketbook.  We use it often.

[KT0930]

When I was doing PD, I never timed it, but I probably was close to the timing of singing Happy Birthday twice, like Petey and Marvin. I also kept a bottle of hand sanitizer on the table that I set all my equipment on (and beside the machine when I switched to the cycler) and used that as the absolute final step before touching my catheter for connecting and disconnecting.

I've heard the same thing about the antibacterial soap, but still took the chance while I was on PD. Now I'm not so careful about using the anti-bacterial, but still use the timing for washing. I guess it's working, and the last time I went to the dermatologist, she gave me a prescription lotion because my hands are so dry - yikes!

[graeme]

I had been using the antibacterial soap but had been told the same thing so I have stared using a liquid soap, I think its Johnsons, that is also a moisturizer and while I use the sanitizer librally my hands are quite good. Also we use rainwater rather than town water and this makes a lot of difference to the dryness of my skin (for the better)

[graeme]

How many HIP HIP HOORAYS do you include?   

[kellyt]

I think when I hit three months (which is four weeks away) I'll start backing down off the anti-bacterial soap.  Maybe keep the one in the kitchen due to working with food and such.  I won't get rid of the liquid anti-bacterial soap in the bathrooms (I'll leave those for guests) and I just add a moisterizing soap for myself.  I use the hand sanitizer as well.  I have purse size in the truck and my purse.

Also, I found the cutest little travel size cans of Lysol spray.  Great for public toilett seats!  I found them at Target and Academy Sports.

[Chris]

I don't know how long it takes me to wash my hands, but I lather up above the wrist, between the fingers, then try to get soap under the nails with a lot of soap. I then rinse and repeat the process, rinse and leave the water running  till I dry my hands with my own towl and shut the water off. At public places I use a lot of paper towels to turn the water on and off unless they have the elctronic sensors to turn on the water.

[graeme]

We purchased a paper towel dispenser (Kimberly Clark) and put it in the bathroom where I wash my hands. (Note: We planted 40 scrubs and 200 trees in the last 12 months - hopely that makes up for the paper use) 

When I come in from outside I wash/rinse/dry and sanitize then get my gear together and then wash again for about the same time as 2 happy birthdays with 2 Hip-Hip-Hoorays  about one and a half minutes, then sanitize.

I also use anti bacterial wipes to wipe down my desk, laptop and mouse and sanitize before and after use and before disconnecting.

I don't think I'd trust using my own towel because of the risk of some type of bacterial accummulating. (a lot of washing if you use a clean one every time)

Also because we are on rainwater I turn off the tap while soaping up and turn on and off with a paper towel.

[Restorer]

The official directions given to me were to scrub with lathered soap for a full three minutes, then rinse in a specific way, with the finger pointed up, so the water only runs one direction down the hand, then dry thoroughly with paper towel (from a dispenser, so I don't touch anything that's been touched by anyone else), then use a paper towel between my hand and anything else I touch before sitting down to connect.

But what I actually do: I usually only wash my hands if I feel they're more dirty than usual, or I've been handling food or pets recently. I wash just long enough to scrub each finger and the fingertips, about a minute and a half. Then I always use a good amount of Germstar hand sanitizer before I take anything out of the packaging, then more sanitizer just before I connect, then I do my exchange, and then more Germstar before I disconnect.

[pelagia]

I posted this on another thread, but here it is again.  Good old soap and water are best.  Triclosan, which is the anti-microbial compound in most of the soaps, is not good for the environment.  We are breeding more and more resistant bacteria every day.

"With cold and flu season here, one of the best measures to prevent the transmission of viruses and bacteria is simple hand-washing. Many soaps and detergents tout their antibacterial properties. But scientists say that such soaps may contribute to the development of bacterial drug resistance.

Environmental concerns have been raised as well. High levels of triclosan and triclocarban—two common compounds found in soaps and detergent—can accumulate in our ecosystem. Triclosan can be transformed into a toxin called dioxin, a known carcinogen.

Meanwhile, there’s little evidence that germ-killing products actually reduce your chances of getting sick. For one thing, they have no effect on viruses, which cause many illnesses, including flu and the common cold.

Several studies have concluded that, for healthy people, washing hands with plain old soap and water is just as good as antibacterial products, if not better. Scrub for at least 20 seconds. The power of soap comes from its suds and lather, which allow soap molecules to form a thin film around dirt and then be washed away under running water. Down the drain go both bacteria and viruses."

http://www.parade.com/health/2008/11/stay-healthy-wash-away-germs.html

[monrein]

I too was told not to use anti-bacterial soaps because any germs that survive become resistant and that is a real danger.   

[boxman55]

good old soap and water for me...Boxman

[Brightsky69]

Wow....in clinic they always stress using anti bacterial liquid soap. I was also told to use it in the shower....eventually, when I can shower. My PD nurse told me that bacteria can develop on bar soap. They really stress handwashing with anti bacterial liquid soap for at least 2 minutes.

[Hanify]

I started off (a year ago) being really really good, and gradually slipped.  Now I only wash my hands with the liquid stuff occasionally (read after number 2's ha ha) and most of the time I use our family towell, which I was warned was a complete no no.  Baxters must know who is naughty and who is not by the amout of paper towells we order per month.  I haven't had any problems, so I'm carrying on as I am.  Brightsky why do you say "when I'm allowed to shower"?  Have you only just started PD?

[dwcrawford]

No one ever told me to wash my hands at the center.  I was my hands (and my feet and over vital places) at home before I leave.  But I don't touch anything there.  I wear a mask then the nurse is connecting the catheter.

I was told that when I start using the fistala I must wash it with soap and water when I leave home and also once I get to the center. 

[G-Ma]

soap and water......and green rubbing alchohol is used to get the tape off my sites so my arm is pretty drunk all the time     

[dwcrawford]

Oh Gma, I bet the arm isn't the only thing drunk....

Un oh.  This is the wrong thread for that isn't it?

[G-Ma]

 

[dwcrawford]

They told G-Ma to wash with soap and water.  She misunderstood and thought they said Scotch and Water.

[G-Ma]

But when I lick my fingers it doesn't taste too bad 

[Chris]

With my latest stay in the hospital, they have automated/electronic  sinks, the type that automatically turns on water. The soap dispenser nearby and then a hand sanitizer spray. Since being there, I never seen anyone use the hand sanitizer, but the doctors, nurses, and CNA's washed their hands before and after each visit since the sink is right by the door. However, no one used the 20 second rule, more like squirt a little soap, rub around the hands twice quickly and rinse. If they are so concerned about germs, why don't they spend more time washing their hands and why isn't the soap dispenser electronic. How many germs are on that handle you have to push? I always used a paper towel before I would touch that!