title: Potential pitfalls in adherence to hand washing in the community.
abstract: Infection control is vitally important in community settings. Community nurses care for people with complex care needs who are extremely vulnerable to infection. The most important thing a nurse can do to prevent the spread of infection is to maintain good hand hygiene. Nurses can face barriers in their efforts to practice good hand hygiene, including lack of education, lack of time, poor facilities and inappropriate clothing and hand adornments. This article outlines evidence-based practice on how to overcome barriers to good hand hygiene and stresses the important role of the community nurse in working with her team to ensure best practice, cut infection rates and save lives.
authors.affiliation: UK. linda.nazarko@nhs.net
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nazarko
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000600:supply & distribution; D003020:Clothing; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017748:Time Management
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local