The Use of Artificial Nails by Health Care Workers and Its Effect on the Spread of Infection

The Use of Artificial Nails by Health Care Workers and Its Effect on the Spread of Infection

Research has revealed that subungual parts of the hand contain paramount concentration of microorganisms such as gram-negative rods, yeasts, Corynebacterium, coagulase-negative staphylococci. However, nail polish freshly applied does not contribute to the rate of bacteria recouped from perinatal skin. Chipped nail polish promotes the multiplication of a high proportion of microorganisms on fingernails. Secondly, even after the utilization of hand rubs or surgical scrubs or even thorough hand washing, personnel with long nail usually harbor large proportion of potential bacteria in the subungual spaces (Gibson, 2013). The paper analyzes a collection of databases relevant to the study of the impacts of the artificial nails on the spread of infection.

1. EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS)

EDS involve a combination of databases containing up-to-date and rigorous studies on the effective performance of healthcare interventions and treatments. The site is managed and controlled by Cochrane Library. The resource provides an avenue to finding systematic reviews, abstracts and pre-clinical sciences. The health care system provides relevant material that promotes the understanding of hygiene. In the site, some document analysis that, as the fingernail develops out, it will inevitably stretch to the point no longer connected to the skin. Most bacterial growth happens at the fingertips around this part where the subungual skin and fingernail not attached. Long nails (natural and artificial) have the potential to enhance the colonization of microorganisms hence making the use of gloves illogical and hand washing ineffective (Fields, 2012).
2. Health and Psychosocial Instruments (HaPI)
HaPI is a database that supports easy access to information approximating to 15,000. It incorporates questionnaires, checklists, interview schedules, scholarly journals, rating scales, newsletters and coding schemes in the area of psychosocial sciences and health. Mayo clinic hosts the database. HaPI is critical to my study of interest because it guides through various studies to determine the impact of artificial nails. A couple of studies conducted shows that caregivers who wear acrylic fingernails are likely to be colonized with Candida. The practice poses possible threats to susceptible patients (Gibson, 2013). Nurses with artificial nails in the health care center have been epidemiologically ensnared in serious outbreaks caused by yeast and gram-negative bacilli.
3. TRoPHI

TRoPHI refers to Trials Register of Promoting Health Interventions. EPPI-Centre hosts it, which is a Social Science Research Unit, located in London. The resources provide systematic reviews, consumer information sheets, evidence summaries, systematic reviews, evidence-based recommendations, best practices infor…………………………