Impact of improving glove usage on the hand hygiene compliance

We assessed the impact of improving glove using on the hand hygiene (HH) compliance in a multicenter study including 9 chronic care settings. If gloves had been used correctly during the evaluation, the overall compliance with HH measured after contacts with patients or environment would have only increased from 66.3% to 68.7%. This weak impact suggests that improving glove usage is not in itself an alternative strategy to improve HH compliance.     

The effect of random voice hand hygiene messages delivered by medical, nursing, and infection control staff on hand hygiene compliance in intensive care

Hand hygiene (HH) compliance in the intensive care unit has been studied extensively, with short-term, nonsustained compliance often because of lack of ongoing reinforcement. HH messages delivered by health care workers responsible for overseeing staff in the intensive care unit provided continuous reinforcement of HH. Compliance measured through product usage and reported as HH/bed-days increased by 60% for soap and sanitizer combined and 25% for sanitizer usage (P < 001).     

提高手卫生依从性并改善感染控制指标的一项新技术

目的评价手卫生智能提醒管理系统引入重症监护病房(ICU)对医务人员手卫生依从性的管理效率及其对该部门主要医院感染指标的影响。方法以某三级甲等医院外科综合ICU为目标部门,研究分两个阶段,基线阶段:指派经培训的观察员通过暗访方式,统计该部门医务人员的手卫生依从率,同时收集该部门医院感染相关指标;干预阶段:布设基于射频识别技术研发的手卫生智能提醒管理系统,自动采集该部门医务人员遵从接触患者前、后的手卫生行为,计算依从率,同时收集该部门医院感染相关指标。比较干预前后医务人员手卫生依从率、医院感染率、多药耐药菌检出率及每床日速干手消毒剂消耗量等。结果干预后医务人员手卫生依从率为69.52%,较干预前的38.27%显著提高,且差异有统计学意义(P0.05);干预后不同岗位医务人员手卫生依从率均显著高于干预前(P0.05),且干预后手卫生依从率呈逐月上升的趋势,并一直稳定保持在较高的水平;干预后医院感染率下降(7.81%vs35.56%,P0.05),多药耐药菌检出率下降(20.0%vs40.63%),而速干手消毒剂消耗量显著上升(189.33 vs 36.69 ml/床日)。结论手卫生智能提醒管理系统不仅实现了对医务人员手卫生行为的智能提醒和有效管理,同时使医院感染的相关指标也得到相应改善。     

Correlation between glove use practices and compliance with hand hygiene in a multicenter study with elderly patients

In a study conducted in 11 health care settings for elderly patients, we demonstrated a significant negative correlation between the proportion of glove use outside any risk of exposure to body fluids and compliance with hand hygiene (P < .02). This result underscores a major limitation of strategies for controlling the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria that recommend systematic glove use for each contact with carriers or their environment.     

Reduction in nosocomial infection with improved hand hygiene in intensive care units of a tertiary care hospital in Argentina

BACKGROUND: Hand hygiene is a fundamental measure for the control of nosocomial infection. However, sustained compliance with hand hygiene in health care workers is poor. We attempted to enhance compliance with hand hygiene by implementing education, training, and performance feedback. We measured nosocomial infections in parallel. METHODS: We monitored the overall compliance with hand hygiene during routine patient care in intensive care units (ICUs); 1 medical surgical ICU and 1 coronary ICU, of 1 hospital in Buenos Aires, Argentina, before and during implementation of a hand hygiene education, training, and performance feedback program. Observational surveys were done twice a week from September 2000 to May 2002. Nosocomial infections in the ICUs were identified using the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) criteria, with prospective surveillance. RESULTS: We observed 4347 opportunities for hand hygiene in both ICUs. Compliance improved progressively (handwashing adherence, 23.1% (268/1160) to 64.5% (2056/3187) (RR, 2.79; 95% CI: 2.46-3.17; P < .0001). During the same period, overall nosocomial infection in both ICUs decreased from 47.55 per 1000 patient-days (104/2187) to 27.93 per 1000 patient days (207/7409) RR, 0.59; 95% CI: 0.46-0.74, P < .0001). CONCLUSION: A program consisting of focused education and frequent performance feedback produced a sustained improvement in compliance with hand hygiene, coinciding with a reduction in nosocomial infection rates in the ICUs.     

Skin reactions related to hand hygiene and selection of hand hygiene products

BACKGROUND: In October 2004, The World Health Organization (WHO) launched the World Alliance for Patient Safety. Within the alliance, the first priority of the Global Patient Safety Challenge is to reduce health care-associated infection. A key action within the challenge is to promote hand hygiene in health care globally as well as at the country level through the campaign "Clean Care is Safer Care." As a result, the WHO is developing Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care, designed to be applicable throughout the world. METHODS: This paper summarizes one component of the global WHO guidelines related to the impact of hand hygiene on the skin of health care personnel, including a discussion of types of skin reactions associated with hand hygiene, methods to reduce adverse reactions, and factors to consider when selecting hand hygiene products. RESULTS: Health care professionals have a higher prevalence of skin irritation than seen in the general population because of the necessity for frequent hand hygiene during patient care. CONCLUSION: Ways to minimize adverse effects of hand hygiene include selecting less irritating products, using skin moisturizers, and modifying certain hand hygiene practices such as unnecessary washing. Institutions need to consider several factors when selecting hand hygiene products: dermal tolerance and aesthetic preferences of users as well as practical considerations such as convenience, storage, and costs.     

Guideline for hand hygiene in health-care settings: Recommendations of the healthcare infection control practices advisory committee and the hicpac/shea/apic/idsa hand hygiene task force

SummaryThe Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Health-Care Settings provides health-care workers (HCWs) with a review of data regarding handwashing and hand antisepsis in health-care settings. In addition, it provides specific recommendations to promote improved hand-hygiene practices and reduce transmission of pathogenic microorganisms to patients and personnel in health-care settings. This report reviews studies published since the 1985 CDC guideline (Garner JS, Favero MS. CDC guideline for handwashing and hospital environmental control, 1985. Infect Control 1986;7:231-43) and the 1995 APIC guideline (Larson EL, APIC Guidelines Committee. APIC guideline for handwashing and hand antisepsis in health care settings. Am J Infect Control 1995;23:251-69) were issued and provides an in-depth review of hand-hygiene practices of HCWs, levels of adherence of personnel to recommended handwashing practices, and factors adversely affecting adherence. New studies of the in vivo efficacy of alcohol-based hand rubs and the low incidence of dermatitis associated with their use are reviewed. Recent studies demonstrating the value of multidisciplinary hand-hygiene promotion programs and the potential role of alcohol-based hand rubs in improving hand-hygiene practices are summarized. Recommendations concerning related issues (e.g., the use of surgical hand antiseptics, hand lotions or creams, and wearing of artificial fingernails) are also included.     

Hand hygiene: improved standards and practice for hospital care

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review the most recently published literature on hand hygiene practices in healthcare settings. RECENT FINDINGS: Adherence with recommendations for hand hygiene remains low, but key factors of noncompliance have been identified and corrective actions proposed. Current guidelines recommend the use of alcohol-based handrub formulations as the new standard of care, thus requiring a system change in most hospitals. In addition, healthcare worker education and motivation are obviously important to modify hand hygiene behavior and must be part of multimodal strategies to enhance compliance in hospitals. Compliance improvement is associated with reduced infection rates and resistance spread. Handrub application according to recommended practices is an alternative to conventional surgical handscrubbing with antiseptic soap and water for surgical hand preparation. SUMMARY: System change must be addressed in most hospitals where alcohol-based handrubbing has not become a standard of care. Strategies to improve hand hygiene compliance must be multimodal and include staff education and motivation, the use of performance indicators, and hospital management support. Successful campaigns will result in reduced infection rates, antimicrobial resistance spread, and enhance patient safety.