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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
This 7 page examined hand decontamination, looking at the issues concerning hand washing in the medical environment. The paper looks at the evidence baaed aspects of the concept and considers how and why it is important as well as the barriers which prevent full compliance from many medical staff. The bibliography cites 12 sources.
Page Count:
7 pages (~225 words per page)
File: TS14_TEhanddecon.doc
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is preventing contamination or cross contamination occurring. The evidence for this dates back to the 1835 and the discovery of the link between micro-organisms and disease, when Agostino Bassi de
Lodi demonstrated that a disease found in silkworms was caused by a fungus, this was significant as it was the recognised instance of a micro-organism infecting and animal (Madigan et
al, 2008, p12). It was on twelve years later that human infection by he transfer of micro-organisms between patients was recognised by a Hungarian doctor. Ignaz Semmelweiss, who was
working at a hospital in Vienna observed a link between the occurrence of childbed fever and the medical staff who where delivering the babies. Semmelweiss initiated a new practice; he
had the staff washing their hands between treating the different patients (Madigan et al, 2008, p14). The measures were successful and the rate of fevers was significantly reduced. With the
absence of any other variables the evidence supported the efficacy of washing hands to prevent the illness. The evidence basis of the importance of hand decontamination is further supported
with later findings seen with Lister, Pasteur and Florence Nightingale (Creedon, 2006, p7) . Louis Pasteur proposed the germ theory in 1857 and by 1867 Joseph Lister had introduced to
role of antiseptics by his practice of spraying surgical instruments with carbolic acid (Madigan et al, 2008, p38). Lister also used carbolic acid to disinfect wounds and dressings, the results
were impressive with a reduction in the mortality rates due to the reduction of bacterial infections (Madigan et al, 2008; Bryan et al, 1994, p23). These were all early moves
which presented evidence for the need to undertake measures to prevent cross contamination by decontaminating contact points which may allow infection to spread between patients. However, the final proof of
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