patient safety & quality
patient safety & quality
By Kristina Pirollo-Ketchum , BA , AA , CHL , CRCST
False Eyelashes in the OR Could Contribute to SSIs
False eyelashes are likely to contribute to compromising patient safety , especially surgical site infections ( SSIs ) when worn in the operating room ( OR ).
The operating theatre is inherently sterile to minimize infections , which makes any object that may hold bacteria or other pathogens a potential problem .”
Healthcare practitioners who wear false eyelashes in operating rooms ( ORs ) jeopardize their patients ’ safety because these items are potential sources of bacterial contamination that can lead to surgical site infections ( SSIs ). Many regulatory authorities and healthcare organizations have put in place measures against the use of false eyelashes , reflecting infection prevention and control concerns . The human resources ( HR ) department is responsible for implementing these policies by informing employees , explaining the measures , ensuring compliance , and punishing violators when the need arises . Healthcare facilities should keep environments as clean as possible while keeping patients ’ needs in mind .
False eyelashes are likely to contribute to compromising patient safety , especially SSIs when worn in the OR . The operating theatre is inherently sterile to minimize infections , which makes any object that may hold bacteria or other pathogens a potential problem . Wearing false eyelashes , whether in the form of strips or more lasting extensions of the same , poses the risk of accumulating bacteria , dust , and other pathogens that can easily be transferred to a patient ’ s surgical area ( Robinson-Warner et al ., 2024 ). This paper explains that it is important to understand the potential risks , follow set guidelines , and enforce the correct modes of dressing through human resource policies .
It is a fact that false eyelashes are capable of accumulating dangerous microbes . Paone ( 2022 ) discusses that these facial ornaments may harbor bacteria , especially in the adhesive that is used to attach them , possibly promoting bacterial growth . Staphylococcus aureus , Escherichia coli , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are some of the common bacteria that are known to grow in such an environment , which , when exposed to patients with open wounds during operations , can lead to contamination and SSIs ( Robinson-Warner et al ., 2024 ). Several studies have established a link between false eyelashes and infection or surgical site infections , and as such , it becomes paramount for any healthcare facility to put in place serious measures to prevent any kind of infection .
While specifically false eyelashes are not prohibited by the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses ( AORN ), the standards and guidelines state that the utmost care should be taken to avoid contamination and ensure optimum infection prevention measures are in place . These guidelines concern attire and personal grooming and recommend that healthcare workers should not wear items that can endanger patients ’ lives during operations ( Paone , 2022 ). Several healthcare organizations have gone so far as to develop elaborate guidelines and protocols whereby the uncontrollable use of fake eyelashes is prohibited , completely citing infection control and patient safety issues as critical reasons .
Similar to AORN , there are other regulatory agencies and healthcare institutions or facilities that have set their dress code policies for patients banning false eyelashes . For example , some dress code regulations in healthcare organizations state that nurses wearing false eyelashes should have them stripped off before they access the clinical areas since they may be a source of bacteria and may also cause infections in some patients ( Paone , 2022 ). These policies have the objectives of maintaining organizational professionalism while ensuring patient safety and controlling infections .
Hospital management , particularly through the HR department , in collaboration with infection prevention and quality , is responsible for ensuring compliance with dress code policies that cover personal grooming , such as the wearing or using of fake eyelashes . As a result , several preventive measures should be taken to maintain compliance by HR departments . First , the HR department must set strict rules on what is acceptable and what is not regarding the dress code at the workplace ( Sheffield Health and Social Care , 2023 ). This would require relevant measures about false eyelashes , as these must be conveyed to the employees . In this case , it is the role of HR to set complete dress code policies so that the employees do not confuse themselves , thus not infringing the dress code policies .
Moreover , other areas where HR should concentrate efforts include policy formulation and development , as well as the provision of policy awareness and education . Special educational sessions where specific attention is paid to the dangers of infections and the risks of using fake eyelashes can help to maintain the safety level within the organization ( Sheffield Health and Social Care , 2023 ). Such sessions should focus on how decisions made in the sphere of image may affect the result of the treatment , thus stressing the idea that even minor details should not be disregarded in a healthcare environment .
Furthermore , HR can enforce monitoring of compliance measures to check whether employees are sticking to the dress code policies issued to them . This may entail annual and random checks within the clinical zones to ascertain compliance irregularities ( Sheffield Health and Social Care , 2023 ). Addressing these concerns early on can prevent the workplace from becoming a source of unfavorable conditions for patients . To improve information reception and adherence , HR should also set up feedback
28 • www . healthcarehygienemagazine . com • september 2024