Thyago Pereira Magnus1, Alexandre R Marra2, Thiago Zinsly Sampaio Camargo1, Elivane da Silva Victor3, Lidiane Soares Sodré da Costa4, Vanessa Jonas Cardoso1, Oscar Fernando Pavão dos Santos5, Michael B Edmond6. 1. Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil. 2. Instituto Israelita de Ensino e Pesquisa Albert Einstein, Av. Albert Einstein, 627/701, 1st floor, Room 108, Bloco A1, Morumbi, Sao Paulo 05651-901, Brazil. Electronic address: alexmarra@einstein.br. 3. Instituto Israelita de Ensino e Pesquisa Albert Einstein, Av. Albert Einstein, 627/701, 1st floor, Room 108, Bloco A1, Morumbi, Sao Paulo 05651-901, Brazil. 4. Onco-Hematology Unit, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil. 5. Division of Medical Practice, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil. 6. Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare methods for assessing compliance with hand hygiene in an intensive care unit (ICU), a step-down unit (SDU), and a hematology-oncology unit. METHODS: Over a 20-week period, we compared hand hygiene compliance measurements by three different methods: direct observation, electronic handwash counter for alcohol gel, and measuring the volume of product used (alcohol gel) in an ICU, an SDU, and a hematology-oncology unit of a tertiary care, private hospital. RESULTS: By direct observation we evaluated 1078 opportunities in the ICU, 1075 in the SDU, and 517 in the hematology-oncology unit, with compliance rates of 70.7%, 75.4%, and 73.3%, respectively. A total of 342,299, 235,914, and 248,698 hand hygiene episodes were recorded by the electronic devices in the ICU, SDU, and hematology-oncology unit, respectively. There were also 127.2 ml, 85.3 ml, and 67.6 ml of alcohol gel used per patient-day in these units. We could find no correlation between the three methods. CONCLUSIONS: Hand hygiene compliance was reasonably high in these units, as measured by direct observation. However, a lack of correlation with results obtained by other methodologies brings into question the validity of direct observation results, and suggests that periodic audits using other methods may be needed.
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare methods for assessing compliance with hand hygiene in an intensive care unit (ICU), a step-down unit (SDU), and a hematology-oncology unit. METHODS: Over a 20-week period, we compared hand hygiene compliance measurements by three different methods: direct observation, electronic handwash counter for alcohol gel, and measuring the volume of product used (alcohol gel) in an ICU, an SDU, and a hematology-oncology unit of a tertiary care, private hospital. RESULTS: By direct observation we evaluated 1078 opportunities in the ICU, 1075 in the SDU, and 517 in the hematology-oncology unit, with compliance rates of 70.7%, 75.4%, and 73.3%, respectively. A total of 342,299, 235,914, and 248,698 hand hygiene episodes were recorded by the electronic devices in the ICU, SDU, and hematology-oncology unit, respectively. There were also 127.2 ml, 85.3 ml, and 67.6 ml of alcohol gel used per patient-day in these units. We could find no correlation between the three methods. CONCLUSIONS: Hand hygiene compliance was reasonably high in these units, as measured by direct observation. However, a lack of correlation with results obtained by other methodologies brings into question the validity of direct observation results, and suggests that periodic audits using other methods may be needed.
Authors: Humberto Guanche Garcell; Ariadna Villanueva Arias; Fernando Ramírez Miranda; Reynol Rubiera Jimenez; Ramón N Alfonso Serrano Journal: Qatar Med J Date: 2017-07-18
Authors: Pierre-Gilles Duvernay; Elisabeth de Laguiche; Renata Campos Nogueira; Bertrand Graz; Louis Nana; Wilfrid Ouédraogo; Yannick Sauter; Eric Sauvageat Journal: Infect Dis Health Date: 2020-05-11