Re: Wearing of Nail Polish, Acrylic nails, SNS, Shellac on Nurses providing Clinical Care Studies

03/03/2020 at 12:41 am #76420

Glenys Harrington

Participant

Author:
Glenys Harrington

Email:
infexion@ozemail.com.au

Organisation:
Infection Control Consultancy (ICC)

State:

Hi Tracey,

Artificial acrylic nails have been shown to harbor higher frequencies of potential pathogens after alcohol hand rub and after antimicrobial soaps. Artificial acrylic nails & fungal infection often occurs with poorly fitted acrylic nails or any disturbance to the original fit (i.e. warmth, moisture and darkness) which affects the skin under the nail and skin around the nail.

Sherner et al showed the following:

*68 pts suffering from nail changes and paronychia which appeared after removal of artificial nails
*Culture was positive in 67 patients (98.5%)
*Candida spp. were the most common pathogen

Shemer A et al. Onycomycosis due to artificial nails. J Eur Acad Dermatology Venereol. 2008 Aug;22(8):998-1000

Despite artificial acrylic nails being epidemiologically implicated in several outbreaks (i.e. Serratia marcesans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Candida spp) I understand the finding were inconclusive in relation to what came first:

a.nail contamination which resulted in patient infection/colonisation/outbreak or
b.patient infection/colonisation which resulted in HCW hand/nail contamination

I dont get too caught up in these types of issues (i.e. artificial nails, nail polish) unless Im investigating an outbreak and can establish an epidemiological links. Such issues can take up a lot of an ICPs time when there are probably more pressing issues we could focus our limited resources on.

Below the elbows another recently introduced infection control strategy that is controversial and lacks evidence to support the practice.

Hope this is helpful.

Regards

Glenys

Glenys Harrington

Consultant

Infection Control Consultancy (ICC)

P.O. Box 6385

Melbourne

Australia, 3004

M: +61 404816434

E: infexion@ozemail.com.au

Hello ladies,

I did a lit review on this for uni. The most recent study I found was

Hewlett, A. L., Hohenberger, H., Murphy, C. N., Helget, L., Hausmann, H., Lyden, E., . . . Hicks, R. (2018). Evaluation of the bacterial burden of gel nails, standard nail polish, and natural nails on the hands of health care workers. AJIC: American Journal of Infection Control, 46(12), 1356-1359. doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2018.05.022

I would ask the staff members to show the scientific literature they are basing their statements on. Irrespective of that, if the policy is bare then bare it must be. When they sign their employee agreement they agree to abide by policy and procedure, you might point that out to them.

Regards

Angela Carvosso

Registered Nurse

Warwick Health Service

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

Hi Tracey,

I have the same issue with staff saying that Shellac is safe to wear when it comes to hand hygiene.

I would like to be included in any information in regards to this please.

Regrds,

Helen

Helen Roberts

Infection Control

07 4646 3106

07 4633 7602

robertsh@sath.org.au

http://www.sath.org.au

PO Box 263, Toowoomba, QLD 4350

280 North St, Toowoomba, QLD 4350

Hello all,

I am having a hard time to get some nurses to adhere to below the elbows in regards to Nail Polish, Enhancements, SNS, Shellac etc.

Most of the staff say that because its Shellac or SNS, it doesnt chip and become a hazard.

I have given them our policies to support this fact of removal all nail enhancements.

Does anyone know of any recent studies on this topic that I read to get more information to supply to my staff?

Thanks,

Tracey Wood
Regional Infection Control Coordinator
Gosford Private Hospital

Burrabil Avenue, North Gosford NSW 2250, Australia
T +61 2 4348 8511 F +61 2 4323 8118
E tracey.wood@healthecare.com.au W healthecare.com.au

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