Hand Hygiene Among Medical Students

'Handshake is a globally widespread, brief greeting or parting tradition in which two people grasp one of each other's hands.' Right hand is mostly used. Different cultures have different customs how and when to shake hands. But at the same time these handshakes serve as a vector for transmission of pathogens from one person to other.

At the time of composing this article COVID-19 has spread all throughout the planet with basically no area left immaculate. The speed of the spread and the alarming death rates have seen numerous nations introduce measures with forestall the spread of COVID-19 and hand washing has received considerable attention during COVID-19 pandemic. It is a straightforward, essential preventive measure that the vast majority can do autonomously.

Hand washing is the scouring together of all surfaces of the hands utilizing a cleanser or substance and water. Hand washing ought to be performed subsequent to showing up busy working, prior to going home, between customer contacts, in the wake of eliminating gloves, when hands are noticeably dirty, prior to eating, after discharge of body squanders (pee and crap), after contact with body liquids, prior and then afterward performing obtrusive systems, and in the wake of taking care of defiled gear. The specific length of time needed for hand washing relies upon the conditions. A washing season of 10 to 15 seconds is prescribed to eliminate transient greenery from the hands. High-hazard regions, like nurseries, normally need around a 2-minute hand wash. Dirtied hands require additional time. 

Nosocomial contaminations because of helpless hand cleanliness are a significant reason for expanding horribleness, mortality, and medical care costs among hospitalized patients around the world. The high predominance of these contaminations, as high as 19%, in agricultural nations represents a test to medical care suppliers. Medical personnels' hands are the most regular kind of vehicle for transmission of infections. Pathogenic microorganisms can remain for 2-an hour on HCWs' hands. Hand washing is the easiest and powerful measure to prevent infectious diseases. Nonetheless, about half of medical services related contaminations happen because of hand of HCPs. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hand hygiene is the most important way to reduce spread of infection in the healthcare centres. Instead of this, studies have proved that it is not practiced by HCWs resulting in poor compliance.

Anatomy and Physiology

According to the CDC, spread of microbes can better be understood by studying the structure. The skin serves as a preventive barrier against water loss, heat loss, microbes' entry , and other dangers.

The skin is made up of an outer layer known as the stratum corneum, the epidermis, dermis, and the hypodermis. Healthy skin has flora colonizing its outer surface, that are microbes that are present below the stratum carenum and the surface of skin. This flora has two main advantages: microbial opposition and competing for nutrients . Generally, these bacteria are not harmful on unbroken skin but may cause infections in other areas of the body such as damaged or broken tskin, the eyes, or body cavities.

Transient microbes are got by HCW's through direct, close contact with diseased persons or contaminated objects or intimate surfaces. Transient skin flora is present on the superficial skin surface. It can be removed by routine hand washing more easily than resident flora. Healthcare-associated infections are a result of this transient flora.

Knowledge of hand hygiene was associated with hand hygiene compliance. As a result, those who have good knowledge of Hand hygiene had 6.74 times more compliance than those who have poor knowledge. This was in line with other similar study done in Kuwait which showed that knowledge of Healthcare Professionals was significantly associated with good hand hygiene compliance. The possible explanation might be due to knowledge on hand hygiene compliance will help to comply with hand hygiene with recommended way, knowledge will help to identify the advantage and disadvantages of hand hygiene compliance and identify the way of HCAIs transmission and how it is prevented.

Hand washing with soap (HWWS) has been suggested by the WHO as the most effective and low-cost strategy to prevent SARS CoV-2 transmission. A recent study reported that hand hygiene together with other protective measures such as wearing mask and avoiding the crowd have also contributed to the decrease in other respiratory infections during COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, a substantial amount of peer-reviewed literature has shown the benefits of hand hygiene to prevent many infectious diseases including gastrointestinal illnesses ; trachoma and soil helminth infection as well as respiratory infection. Thus, hand hygiene practices are not only important during a pandemic, but also critical to prevent the spread of other disease

To conclude, from the above context now it is evident that hand hygiene is very important not on individual level but it is also important for the society as whole in order to prevent many of the infetious diseases and to improve health conditions.