Hands hygiene and the use of gloves by nursing team in hemodialysis service

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze the adhesion of the nursing team to the practice of hands hygiene (HH) and the use of latex gloves in a hemodialysis service. Method: this is a descriptive-exploratory study with a quantitative approach, performed between August and October 2016 in a hemodialysis service in the countryside of São Paulo State, Brazil, where the nursing team adhered to HH and the use of gloves. All ethical aspects have been contemplated. Results: there were 1090 opportunities for HH, with the adhesion rate being only 16.6%. Regarding the use of gloves, of the 510 opportunities observed, there was correct use in 45%, reuse in 25% and absence of latex gloves in 29% of the time. Conclusion: the rate of HH and adherence to gloves is far from ideal, contributing to the increased risk of infection for both the user and the professional.