Posted By Paul Durkin
Hi,
Please advise whether staff visiting community homes(eg home carers) that have a variety of hygiene arrangements , would be better off using simple baby / wet wipes,
rather than alcohol gel and paper towels?
Or am I being too simple !!
Regards, Paul

Posted By Dave Merchant
Soap and water stopped because of two things.. firstly people don't always have access to water out in the community, and second the stuff people call "soap" is rarely actually soap anymore - washing in a mush of pH-neutral moisturizers and fragrances is pointless.

What you choose depends on the reason you're using them - if you're following a protection system against a known hazard such as MRSA/CDiff then antibacterial wipes or gel should be used - baby wipes are rarely tested against such things. If it's simply to wash tomato sauce off your fingers before filling in a form then you can use whatever you want. The point to remember is that if you ARE implementing a formal antibacterial system then it needs training as well as equipment - people do not wash their hands "properly" unless they're trained, as the NHS admirably demonstrated when they first adopted the bedside gel dispensers.

Posted By Chris Packham
Cannot really improve on Dave's explanation except to stress the need for education. Several studies have shown how the majority of people will not adequately cover their skin with a cream or alcohol gel unless they have first been properly trained.

Also keep in mind that an alcohol gel is quickly inactivated if the hands are contaminated with organic matter. In this situation possibly a twin action approach is rquired. First wipe to remove the soiling, then the second for its anti-microbial action.

Chris

Posted By Chris Packham
Paul

One could suggest babywipes for removal of organic soiling and alcohol gel for prevention of cross infection. However, this adds a product and a complication which could easily lead to confusion.

My approach would be the alcohol impregnated wipe for both purposes.

A possible alternative which I would trial would be the alcohol gel and babywipe. At least one supplier produces the alcohol gel in a small bottle with extending cord in a belt clip. I use this myself and find it extremely convenient.

Regards
Chris

Posted By Paul Durkin
Thanks Ron,
In social work we have a wide variety of carers from domicillary, occupational therapists, care managers, child /adult protection to protection of property officers(no water)Soap, water. then towels may be a bit of a struggle. The idea of a one wipe solution seems best.
Regards,Paul

Posted By Ghaam
there may be issues regarding the use of alcohol on religious grounds

Posted By Paul Durkin
Thanks Ghaam,
The wipes are for external use, you may have confused imbibing for embalming !!
The alcohol(ethanol) in alcohol gels can be as much as 75%, whereas for impregnated wipes the alcohol content can be 5%(IPA) I think we will try the latter and avoid religious imbibing.
Regards, Paul

Posted By Aileen
In addition to V Johnston's reply, c.difficile is not eradicated by alcohol wipes. Soap and water is the recommended means of controlling this.

You should contact the Infection Control Nurse at your local NHS Hospital who will give you all the best and latest advice on hand decontamination.

Hope this helps.

Aileen

Posted By Aileen
Hi Paul

Having worked closely with Infection Control Nurses in my previous job I understand where you're coming from. The advice from my ex-colleagues is to use the wipes/alcohol gel only as an interim and then, as soon as good handwashing facilities are available, use them.

Of course, gloves should also be used where there is a concern.

As you said, it is also true that the "nasties" are far less likely to be picked up in the community anyway so, although you could argue you're back where you started, I think your position is less worrying that it may at first have appeared.

Aileen