Remember the Pandemic Obsession with Hand Hygiene? That Poses Its Own Risks

The potentially lifesaving necessity of maintaining proper hand hygiene was drilled into us ad nauseum over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like all good things, however, overdoing it carries its own hazards. According to new guidance published in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, excessive handwashing and even the length of a worker’s fingernails can increase risk for infection in that individual and those they come in contact with. Providers and other patient-facing team members, in particular, are warned that washing their hands too frequently could cause the skin to dry and crack, raising the risk for infection. Rather than soap and water, the guidance recommends alcohol-based sanitizers, and that sanitizer dispensers be installed on both the inside and outside of exam rooms. Among the other recommendations: Keep some sinks dedicated exclusively for handwashing so no other fluids can be introduced; avoid using bleach to clean sink drains in favor of cleaning products formulated to remove biofilm; and keep fingernails “natural” and trimmed so they don’t extend beyond the fingertips. The guidance is the product of a collaboration among the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, the American Hospital Association, and the Joint Commission.