What could be more basic than the simple act of washing your hands? Children at junior school are taught to do it. Yet research tends to point to the lack of hand washing as being a major contributor to hospital acquired infection. I have summarised this piece by Elizabeth Pinney which takes us right back to the 18th century - and bang up to date! Reflect on your practices and that of your colleagues before you tell me this is old news.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Department of Health1995Hospital Infection Control Guidelines on the control of infection in hospitalLondon.
2.
Elliott RRA1996Hand washing practice in nurse education.Professional Nurse11(6) 357–360
3.
GallagherR1999This is the way we wash our handsNursing Times95(10) 62–65
