Hideaki Kato1, Rie Takeda2, Yoshinori Ideno3, Tomoyo Suzuki4, Kayoko Sano4, Kana Nakamura2. 1. Infection Prevention and Control Department, Yokohama City University Hospital, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama Japan. Electronic address: ekato@yokohama-cu.ac.jp. 2. Infection Prevention and Control Department, Yokohama City University Hospital, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama Japan; Nursing Department, Yokohama City University Hospital, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Japan. 3. CARECOM Co., Ltd, Choufu, Tokyo, Japan. 4. Infection Prevention and Control Department, Yokohama City University Hospital, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama Japan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Outpatient clinics are reservoirs for significant pathogens. Hand hygiene with alcohol-based hand rubs are measures currently in use to prevent horizontal transmission of infections. The extent of compliance with hand hygiene regulations is unclear and difficult to monitor. METHODS: We built an automated monitoring system with a pressure sensor attached to the alcohol-based hand rubs containers. Wireless fidelity (WIFI)-assisted data collection took place over 9 weeks. Interventions included posters, email reminders and newsletters. Hand hygiene compliance before and after these interventions was evaluated. RESULTS: Overall compliance with hand hygiene regulations was 6.48%; half of the physicians participating in our study performed hand hygiene at only 3.08% of patient visits. Twenty-four (17.9%) physicians performed hand hygiene with high compliance (≥10%), while 11.2% performed no hand hygiene at all. Physicians in academic positions and those with ≥20 years of experience performed hand hygiene less frequently than did other physicians. Compliance with hand hygiene regulations improved from 6.08% to 6.73% (P < .001) after intervention. DISCUSSION: Compliance with hand hygiene among physicians in our outpatient clinics was very low and needs to improve. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions improved the compliance somewhat, although additional interventions including education, training and feedback were suggested.
BACKGROUND:Outpatient clinics are reservoirs for significant pathogens. Hand hygiene with alcohol-based hand rubs are measures currently in use to prevent horizontal transmission of infections. The extent of compliance with hand hygiene regulations is unclear and difficult to monitor. METHODS: We built an automated monitoring system with a pressure sensor attached to the alcohol-based hand rubs containers. Wireless fidelity (WIFI)-assisted data collection took place over 9 weeks. Interventions included posters, email reminders and newsletters. Hand hygiene compliance before and after these interventions was evaluated. RESULTS: Overall compliance with hand hygiene regulations was 6.48%; half of the physicians participating in our study performed hand hygiene at only 3.08% of patient visits. Twenty-four (17.9%) physicians performed hand hygiene with high compliance (≥10%), while 11.2% performed no hand hygiene at all. Physicians in academic positions and those with ≥20 years of experience performed hand hygiene less frequently than did other physicians. Compliance with hand hygiene regulations improved from 6.08% to 6.73% (P < .001) after intervention. DISCUSSION: Compliance with hand hygiene among physicians in our outpatient clinics was very low and needs to improve. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions improved the compliance somewhat, although additional interventions including education, training and feedback were suggested.
Authors: Q Xu; Y Liu; D Cepulis; A Jerde; R A Sheppard; W Reichle; L Scott; L Oppy; G Stevenson; S Bishop; S P Clifford; P Liu; M Kong; J Huang Journal: J Hosp Infect Date: 2022-02-02 Impact factor: 8.944