§ 7 Hygiene training, vaccinations and hand hygiene

In detail

Hygiene training

All staff are informed, with proof, by the practice owner or the hygiene officer about possible sources of infection, routes of infection and the safety measures required Hygiene-V § 11(1). The training covers in particular:

1. infectious diseases and how they spread,
2. infection risks in the practice,
3. risks from injuries with sharp or pointed instruments and possible contact with blood or other potentially infectious substances,
4. general hygiene requirements in the practice,
5. the special hygiene measures used in your practice,
6. responsibilities and cover arrangements.

It is documented with date, name and signature Hygiene-V § 6(1). Anyone new to the team needs this training too.

Device instruction and needlesticks

Instruction in cleaning, reprocessing and sterilising particular medical devices, by the hygiene officer or by manufacturers, is documented. External training is needed only where the manufacturer requires it Hygiene-V § 11(2). The Needlestick Regulation (NastV) applies (3).

Vaccinations

Staff are offered vaccinations according to the practice's risk profile and the recommendations of the Supreme Health Council and the AUVA. They are informed about recommended vaccinations. Vaccinations go into personal records with batch and booster dates; a copy is kept with the personnel file. If someone refuses an offered vaccination, the refusal is documented Hygiene-V § 12.

Work clothing

In areas with a higher risk of contamination there is suitable work clothing. It is cleaned regularly, changed at once when visibly soiled and, depending on the risk, stored apart from private clothing Hygiene-V § 13.

Hand hygiene

• Washing with liquid soap cleans soiled hands; it isn't disinfection. With patient contact: well-kept, natural, short nails. Avoid hand jewellery and artificial nails; for sterile surgical procedures they aren't allowed Hygiene-V § 14.
• Hygienic hand disinfection follows every skin contact with open wounds or damaged skin, on dry hands, fingertips and the spaces between fingers included. It takes 30 seconds, with an alcohol-based product listed by a recognised society Hygiene-V § 15.
• Before surgical procedures, hand disinfection takes at least 90 seconds Hygiene-V § 16.