DeBug Infection Prevention Program

Hand Hygiene

Effective Hand Hygiene is the single most important strategy in preventing hospital-acquired infections.

DeBug contains 70% Isopropyl Alcohol, 0.5% Chlorhexidine Gluconate in an emollient base. This combination provides the rapid killing of alcohol with the longer-acting antibacterial activity of chlorhexidine, while protecting your hands from excessive drying.

Reprinted with permission from Elsevier (THE LANCET Infectious Diseases, 2001;April:9-20)

Compared to traditional hand washing, DeBug™ is:

• Quick and easy to use
  
• More accessible
  
• Causes less skin irritation and dryness
  
• More effective in reducing the number of bacteria on hands
  
• Improves Hand Hygiene compliance among health care workers
  

Alcohol-based hand rubs have been shown to be associated with decreased infection rates.

Ref: Pittet

Even when performing multiple activities for the same patient, DeBug™ should be used before and after each activity. For instance DeBug™ should be used:

BEFORE and AFTER patient wound care

BEFORE and AFTER administering IV medication

BEFORE and AFTER emptying a drainage bag or measuring a blood sugar level

DeBug™ solution is located on the foot of every patient bed and in high use areas throughout our wards.

• When your hands are visibly soiled
• For invasive/aseptic procedures when antimicrobial solution should be used
• After removing powdered gloves

For tips on how to wash your hands effectively with soap & water, visit www.cdc.gov/handhygiene/

Just remember "Squirt, Rub, Roll"

	SQUIRT: once onto the palm of your hand
	RUB: hands together
	ROLL: over all surfaces of your hands until dry

If you have applied an adequate amount of DeBug™, it should take at least 10-15 seconds for your hands to dry. If it takes less than 10 seconds, you need to apply more.

Don’t forget your finger tips and around your nails.

DeBug™ includes an emollient and is less likely to dry hands as much as soap & water. However it is still important to moisturise hands regularly.

Yes. Hand Hygiene compliance improved dramatically. At Austin Health we measured current Hand Hygiene practices by conducting multiple observational sessions of health care workers in clinical practice. The graph below shows the change in Hand Hygiene compliance in three areas following the introduction of DeBug™.