Hand Hygiene

The first week of Interventions was spent going over the plans for this year. The first lesson was on hand hygiene and the three types of hand washing techniques. Micro-organisms found on the skin include two categories, resident micro-organisms and transient micro-organisms. Resident micro-organisms are usually deep-seated in the epidermis and are not easily removed. Transient micro-organisms include most of the organisms responsible for cross-contamination and infection.

Proper hand washing reduces sicknesses from respiratory infections to illnesses caused by food. Of the 95% of people that claim to practice proper hand washing, only 28% actually do. Another disturbing fact is that 11% of people do not perform any hygiene at all. Damp hands are 1,000x more likely to spread bacteria than dry hands, but only about 20% of people dry their hands after washing them. Most of the bacteria on our hands is on our fingertips and underneath the nails. 80% of communicable diseases are transferred by touch, which is why it is extremely important to practice proper hand washing techniques. There are three levels of hand washing, routine hand washing, antiseptic hand washing, and surgical hand washing. Soon we will be completing a lab that will teach us the surgical scrub technique that will help us when we begin our job shadowing this year.

The job shadowing opportunity is a crucial step in the Interventions program. This year I will have the choice to shadow a doctor or doctors in my chosen field, general surgery with a specialty in trauma. I will be in contact with several doctors, one of which will become my mentor, that will help further my education in general surgery. I chose general surgery because it requires a complex understanding of the human body and its functions, as well as the challenges this career choice will bring me.