1. Personnel should remove rings, watches, and bracelets before washing their hands and entering the nursery area.

2. Fingernails should be trimmed short and no false fingernails or opaque polish should be permitted.

3. Antiseptic preparations should be used for scrubbing before entering the nursery, before and after providing care, before performing invasive procedures, and after touching secretions, blood, or equipment.

4. Before handling neonates for the first time (each day), personnel should scrub their hands and arms to a point above the elbow with an antiseptic soap. After (two) minutes of washing, the hands should be rinsed thoroughly and dried with paper towels.

5. A 10-second wash with soap and vigorous rubbing, is required before and after handling each neonate and after touching objects whether or not gloves are worn.

6. Alcohol-containing foams and gel satisfactorily kill bacteria when applied to clean hands and require 15 seconds to 2 minutes of contact. Alcohol-containing products are not appropriate for cleaning physically soiled hands.