Acrylic Nails And Infection Control

Mayer MD professor of surgery in orthopedics at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon NH.

Acrylic nails and infection control. Both nail polish and plastic or acrylic nails can trap moisture and fungi. JCAHO Recommendations One of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations JCAHO 2007 National Patient Safety Goals NPSG revisits the importance of hand hygiene and artificial nails6 NPSG 7 reads as follows. This is done to extend the length of the natural nails.

American Journal of Infection Control. Two studies add to the evidence that health care. Conclusive evidence is needed.

In study 2 the microbial flora of the nails of 30 HCWs who wore permanent acrylic artificial nails were compared with that of control HCWs who had native nails. When you notice one of your acrylic nail lifting or is not fitted well then you must glue it back immediately in order to prevent it from moisture. However the most interesting aspect is a small reference to the problem of artificial acrylic nails being a source of infection.

Author links open overlay panel Angela L. United States get an infection in hospitals and about 90000 of these patients die as a result of their infection. Goal 7 Reduce the risk of health care-associated infection.

So always take a glue-stick with you in your handbag. 7A Comply with current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC hand hygiene guidelines. To remove acrylic or gel nails you soak your fingers in acetone for 10 minutes or longer.

4 Evidence of Relationship Between Hand Hygiene and Healthcare-Associated Infections. Evaluation of the bacterial burden of gel nails standard nail polish and natural nails on the hands of health care workers. The US research published in the American Journal of Infection Control involved painting the nails of healthcare workers with standard polish.