BACKGROUND: Handwashing is the most effective and economic intervention shown to reduce nosocomial infection rates. However, studies have consistently documented low hand disinfection compliance. Literature regarding the roles that concomitant glove use and isolation precautions play in health care worker compliance with hand disinfection is limited. It is unclear whether workers change gloves and disinfect hands adequately between exposures to different body sites/secretions while caring for a patient. METHODS: This was an observational study in which hand disinfection compliance and glove use among workers was evaluated in 2 intensive care units at a tertiary care hospital. RESULTS: Five hundred eighty-nine opportunities for hand disinfection were recorded in 40 hours of observation. Overall compliance was 22.1%. We found a statistically significant, positive association between glove use and subsequent hand disinfection (relative risk [RR], 3.9 [95% CI, 2.5-6.0]; P <.0001). Isolation precautions did not significantly increase disinfection compliance. Only 4.8% (3/63) of workers appropriately complied with disinfection when hands were exposed to multiple body sites/secretions while caring for a patient. CONCLUSIONS: Glove use increases compliance with hand disinfection. Isolation precautions do not increase compliance. Workers do not appropriately comply with disinfection guidelines when attending to multiple body sites/secretions on the same patient. Compliance with hand disinfection remains low.
BACKGROUND: Handwashing is the most effective and economic intervention shown to reduce nosocomial infection rates. However, studies have consistently documented low hand disinfection compliance. Literature regarding the roles that concomitant glove use and isolation precautions play in health care worker compliance with hand disinfection is limited. It is unclear whether workers change gloves and disinfect hands adequately between exposures to different body sites/secretions while caring for a patient. METHODS: This was an observational study in which hand disinfection compliance and glove use among workers was evaluated in 2 intensive care units at a tertiary care hospital. RESULTS: Five hundred eighty-nine opportunities for hand disinfection were recorded in 40 hours of observation. Overall compliance was 22.1%. We found a statistically significant, positive association between glove use and subsequent hand disinfection (relative risk [RR], 3.9 [95% CI, 2.5-6.0]; P <.0001). Isolation precautions did not significantly increase disinfection compliance. Only 4.8% (3/63) of workers appropriately complied with disinfection when hands were exposed to multiple body sites/secretions while caring for a patient. CONCLUSIONS: Glove use increases compliance with hand disinfection. Isolation precautions do not increase compliance. Workers do not appropriately comply with disinfection guidelines when attending to multiple body sites/secretions on the same patient. Compliance with hand disinfection remains low.
Authors: Courtney A Gidengil; Charlene Gay; Susan S Huang; Richard Platt; Deborah Yokoe; Grace M Lee Journal: Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol Date: 2015-01 Impact factor: 3.254
Authors: H P Loveday; J A Wilson; R J Pratt; M Golsorkhi; A Tingle; A Bak; J Browne; J Prieto; M Wilcox Journal: J Hosp Infect Date: 2014-01 Impact factor: 3.926
Authors: R J Pratt; C M Pellowe; J A Wilson; H P Loveday; P J Harper; S R L J Jones; C McDougall; M H Wilcox Journal: J Hosp Infect Date: 2007-02 Impact factor: 3.926
Authors: Bryce Haac; Clare Rock; Anthony D Harris; Lisa Pineles; Deborah Stein; Thomas Scalea; Peter Hu; George Hagegeorge; Stephen Y Liang; Kerri A Thom Journal: Injury Date: 2016-08-17 Impact factor: 2.586
Authors: Saskia Nijssen; Ad Fluit; David van de Vijver; Janetta Top; Rob Willems; Marc J M Bonten Journal: Intensive Care Med Date: 2010-03 Impact factor: 17.440