No jewellery, cellphone use in ICU: Advisory to health workers

New Delhi: Healthcare workers should remove all types of jewellery below the elbow while on duty, Centre said in a fresh directive.

In the directive issued to heads of all central govt run hospitals, the director general of health services (DGHS) has also stressed the need to develop and enforce a policy to restrict use of mobile phones in patient areas and critical zones such as ICUs, HDUs, post-operative wards and operation rooms.

According to DGHS Atul Goel, there is substantial evidence that wearing hand jewellery below the elbow increases total skin micro-organism counts. "Use of mobile phones, while on duty especially in critical areas like ICUs, HDUs, post-operative wards and operation theatres, pose infection risks," he said in his letter sent out on April 9.

He has suggested that respective hospitals can revise their SOPs (standard operating procedures) on hand hygiene and specifically mention where wristwatches are permitted. Similar guidelines are applicable in other leading hospitals globally as well, said a senior doctor.