BOP Program Statement 6190.05 § 5

a. Overview. Each institution must have a program to facilitate and promote hand hygiene

among staff and inmates.

 Health Services. Areas used for hand hygiene in the HSU must be supplied with readily

available soap, water, and alcohol-based hand rub that contains at least 60% alcohol. In

accordance with CDC guidelines on hand hygiene for healthcare workers, hand hygiene

must be performed before and after contact with an inmate, regardless of whether gloves

are worn.

 Staff. The institution assures areas for hand hygiene are available for all staff with access

to soap and water and/or hand sanitizer. Hand hygiene will be performed after gloves are

removed.

 Inmates. The institution assures inmates are provided with an adequate supply of soap

and areas to wash hands frequently throughout the day.

b. Health Care Worker Hand Hygiene Auditing. Institution Health Services procedure

manuals will outline a method to periodically monitor compliance with hand hygiene by health

care workers in the HSU. The IP&C nurse (or designee) will review trends in hand hygiene

compliance at the IP&C meetings.

c. Fingernails. In accordance with CDC guidelines, health care workers who provide direct

medical care for inmates at high risk for acquiring infections must not wear artificial nails and

must keep natural nails short (extending less than ¼ inch). In the Bureau, this includes health

care staff working in Advanced Care Units (ACUs), Nursing Care Center Units, operating rooms,

dialysis centers, oncology units, and other medical care areas as deemed necessary by the CD or

designee.