Hand hygiene in local primary school children — an infection control and health promotion initiative

2002 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 14-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Baxter ◽  
V Cleary
Keyword(s):  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Primary School Children ◽  
Liquid Soap ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Skin Bacteria ◽  
Health Promotion Initiative

A small collaborative infection control pilot project to help promote hand hygiene in local primary schools was designed by Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth (MSW) and Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham (LSL) Health Authorities in London. The pilot consisted of a selection of four primary schools in two London Boroughs being encouraged to use fun frothy liquid soap in dispensers over the 2001 summer term. Pre- and post-intervention questionnaires were used with a selected number of staff members to ascertain actual/perceived knowledge and behaviour changes in both staff and children. All schools stated that handwashing increased during the pilot study and children actually looked forward to using the dispensers. Six of the eight schools in the pilot have agreed to expand the use of liquid soap dispensers as a result. Liquid soap was recognised as being a safe, effective and acceptable handwashing solution in communal settings, particularly when compared with bar soap, which can result in contamination with skin bacteria and Gram-negative bacilli (Reybrouck, 1986). The challenge for all schools is to ensure the message is continually reinforced for hand washing to be effective and sustainable, helped by the provision of adequate facilities.

scholarly journals Surgical caps displaying team members' names and roles improve effective communication in the operating room: a pilot study

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ned Douglas ◽  
Sophie Demeduik ◽  
Kate Conlan ◽  
Priscilla Salmon ◽  
Brian Chee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Operating Room ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Median Number ◽  
Operating Theatre ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Medical Practitioners ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Cooperative Relationships ◽  
Theatre Staff

Abstract Background Teamwork in the operating theatre is a complex emergent phenomenon and is driven by cooperative relationships between staff. A foundational requirement for teamwork is the ability to communicate effectively, and in particular, knowing each other’s name. Many operating theatre staff do not know each other’s name, even after formal team introductions. The use of theatre caps to display a staff member’s name and role has been suggested to improve communication and teamwork. Methods We hypothesized that the implementation of scrub hats with individual team members' names and roles would improve the perceived quality and effectiveness of communication in the operating theatre. A pilot project was designed as a pre-/post-implementation questionnaire sent to 236 operating room staff members at a general hospital in suburban Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, between November 6 to December 18, 2018. Participants included medical practitioners (anaesthetists, surgeons, obstetricians and gynaecologists), nurses (anaesthetic, scrub/scout and paediatric nurses), midwives and theatre technicians. The primary outcome was a change in perceived teamwork score, measured using a five position Likert scale. Results Of 236 enrolled participants, 107 (45%) completed both the pre and post intervention surveys. The median perceived teamwork response of four did not change after the intervention, though the number of low scores was reduced (p = 0.015). In a pre-planned subgroup analysis, the median perceived teamwork score rose for midwives from three to four (p < 0.001), while for other craft groups remained similar. The median number of staff members in theatre that a participant did not know the name of reduced from three to two (p < 0.001). Participants reported knowing the names of all staff members present in the theatre more frequently after the intervention (31% vs 15%, p < 0.001). The reported rate of formal team introductions was not significantly different after the intervention (34.7% vs 47.7% p = 0.058). Conclusions In this study, we found that wearing caps displaying name and role appeared to improve perceived teamwork and improve communication between staff members working in the operating theatre.

scholarly journals Healthcare Worker Perceptions of Germs and Personal Hygiene Routines in a Ventilator-Capable Skilled Nursing Facility (vSNF)

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s245-s246
Author(s):  
Katharina Rynkiewich ◽  
Jinal Makhija ◽  
Mary Carl Froilan ◽  
Ellen Benson ◽  
Alice Han ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Healthcare Worker ◽  
Nursing Staff ◽  
Nursing Assistants ◽  
Personal Hygiene ◽  
Certified Nursing Assistants ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Semistructured Interviews

Background: During a 2017–2019 intervention in Chicago-area vSNFs to control carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, healthcare worker adherence to hand hygiene and personal protective equipment was stubbornly inadequate (hand hygiene adherence, ~16% and 56% on entry and exit), despite educational and monitoring efforts. Little is known about vSNF staff understanding of multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) transmission. We conducted a qualitative analysis of staff members at a vSNF that included assessment of staff perceptions of personal MDRO acquisition risk and associated personal hygiene routines transitioning from work to home. Methods: Between September 2018 and November 2018, a PhD-candidate medical anthropologist conducted semistructured interviews with management (N = 5), nursing staff (N = 6), and certified nursing assistants (N = 6) at a vSNF in the Chicago region (Illinois) who had already received 1 year of MDRO staff education and hand hygiene adherence monitoring. More than 11 hours of semistructured interviews were collected and transcribed. Data collection and analysis included identifying how staff members related to their own risk of MDRO acquisition/infection and what personal hygiene routines they followed. Transcriptions of the data were analyzed using thematic coding aided by MAXQDA qualitative analysis software. Results: Staff members at all levels were able to describe their perceptions related to the risk of acquiring an MDRO and personal hygiene in great detail. The risk of acquiring an MDRO was perceived as a constant threat by staff members, who described germs as bad and everywhere (Table 1). The perceived threat of MDRO acquisition was connected to individual personal hygiene routines (eg, changing shoes before leaving work), which were considered important by staff members (Table 2). Nursing staff and certified nursing assistants noted that personal hygiene was a critical factor keeping their residents, themselves, and their families free from MDROs. Conclusions: In the context of a quality improvement campaign, vSNF healthcare workers are aware of the transmissibility of microscopic MDROs and are highly motivated in preventing transmission of MDROs to themselves. Such perceptions may explain actions such as why workers may be differentially adherent with infection control interventions (eg, more likely to perform hand hygiene leaving a room rather than going into a room, or less likely to change gowns in between residents in multibed rooms if they believe they are already personally protected with a gown). Our findings suggest that interventions to improve staff adherence to infection control measures may need to address other factors related to adherence besides knowledge deficit (eg, understaffing) and may need to acknowledge self-protection as a driving motivator for staff adherence.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

scholarly journals Effectiveness of an Intervention Program to Improve Compliance with Hand Hygiene among Health Staff in NAFH

2017 ◽  
Vol 07 (01) ◽  
pp. 016-020
Author(s):  
Imed Harrabi ◽  
Saad Al-Ghamdi ◽  
Paolo Cubelo
Keyword(s):  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Hand Hygiene Compliance ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Positive Trend ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Positive Interaction ◽  
Hygiene Compliance ◽  
Pilot Intervention

Abstract Background: Hand Hygiene, either by hand washing or hand disinfection, remains the single most important measure to prevent nosocomal infections. Objective: To increase Hand Hygiene compliance to at least 10% among health care staffs in female and medical wards after six months of a pilot intervention program. Methods: It was a pre-post intervention study in Najran Armed forces Hospital during the year 2015. knowledge was assessed using WHO's hand hygiene questionnaire Measurement of attitude was done on the basis of 13 questions where the subjects had to give their opinion on a 1 to 5 point Liker Scale ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree. Compliance was measured and directly observed by experienced infection control linkers. Results: the results of our study showed a positive effect of the pilot intervention program on knowledge, attitude and compliance on hand hygiene. An increase in compliance of 6.44% and 7.56% were observed in Female Ward and Male Ward respectively in post-intervention. Conclusions: All should be done to maintain the positive trend of hand hygiene compliance. The infection control team should be encouraged to maintain a continuous monitoring of hand hygiene compliance and have a positive interaction with the health staff.

scholarly journals A pilot study of the effect of providing daily free fruit to primary-school children in Auckland, New Zealand

2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 693-701 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pauline AL Ashfield-Watt ◽  
Elizabeth A Stewart ◽  
Judi A Scheffer
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Primary School ◽  
School Children ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Primary School Children ◽  
Fruit Intake ◽  
Post Intervention

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the uptake of a free fruit provision to low-decile primary-school children by quantitatively assessing changes in fruit intake.DesignA randomised controlled trial using a paired, cluster randomisation.SettingTwenty low-decile primary schools (schools attended by the most deprived children) in Auckland, New Zealand.SubjectsIn total 2032 children, aged 7–11 years, provided data on at least one occasion.InterventionTen pairs of low-decile primary schools matched by roll size and location were randomly allocated to control (no free fruit) or intervention (free fruit) for a school term. Dietary assessments using the 24 h recall methodology were made at baseline, on the last week of the intervention and 6 weeks post-intervention.ResultsFruit intakes in this cohort were lower than the national average with over 40 % reporting no fruit intake at baseline and did not differ between groups. After the free fruit period the intervention group increased school fruit intakes by 0·39 pieces/school d from baseline (P≤ 0·001) and the proportion of children consuming no fruit reduced to 22 %. This increase, however, was not sustained and fruit intakes fell below baseline levels at 6 weeks post-intervention. Control subjects did not significantly alter their fruit intakes throughout the study.ConclusionsImproving exposure and accessibility to fruits at school increases fruit intakes of low socio-economic group children, particularly those who do not normally eat fruit. The present pilot study demonstrates some possible negative effects of short-term free fruit interventions, but is informative for developing and evaluating sustained fruit intervention programmes.

scholarly journals Impact of hand washing intervention program on knowledge, attitude and practices about hand hygiene among school children in urban area of Kolhapur city

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (7) ◽  
pp. 2955
Author(s):  
Pallavi A. Potdar ◽  
T. A. More ◽  
Anjali Wagh ◽  
Manjiri M. Desai ◽  
Raja .
Keyword(s):  
Health Education ◽  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Urban Area ◽  
School Children ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Control Measure ◽  
Infection Control Measure ◽  
Hand Washing ◽  
Primary School Children

Background: Good hand hygiene is an important infection control measure as person-to-person contact via hands is a common mode of transmission for gastrointestinal and respiratory infections. There are promising results of proper hand washing for reducing many kinds of diseases. For improvement of knowledge and practice of hand washing, health education intervention is very much fruitful. The objectives of the study were to study knowledge, attitude and practice regarding hand washing among primary school children; to study impact of hand washing intervention program on knowledge, attitude and practices about hand hygiene.Methods: The study was conducted from 1st March 2018 to 30th December 2018 in the government aided primary schools of urban area in Kolhapur. Initially baseline school health check-up was done to study knowledge, attitude and the actual hand washing practices both in school as well as at home among children. Extensive health education programs were conducted to demonstrate correct hand washing technique and importance of hand washing was taught; with involvement of teachers from schools. Data was collected using interview questionnaires. Hand washing facility and availability of water and soap in school was also noted. Teachers were actively involved to motivate students for hand washing with soap before eating and after visiting toilet facility. Follow up visits were done to study parameters like improvement in knowledge, attitude and practices about hand hygiene.Results: After our health education sessions there was significant improvement in knowledge, attitude and practices regarding hand washing among the school children.Conclusions: From our study findings it can be stated that after our health education sessions there was significant improvement in hand washing behaviour among the participants. We tried to sensitize teachers also so that they will motivate children in future.

scholarly journals Improving TB infection control in a regional hospital in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. bmjoq-2018-000347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilsa Louisa Haeusler ◽  
Felicity Knights ◽  
Vishaal George ◽  
Andy Parrish
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Hospital Policy ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Root Cause ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Service Training ◽  
Education And Awareness ◽  
Awareness Raising

This quality improvement (QI) work was carried out in Cecilia Makiwane Hospital (CMH), a regional public hospital in the Eastern Cape, South Africa (SA). SA has among the highest incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in the world and this is a leading cause of death in SA. Nosocomial infection is an important source of TB transmission. Adherence to TB infection prevention control (IPC) measures in the medical inpatient department was suboptimal at CMH. The overall aim of this QI project was to make sustainable improvements in TB IPC. A multidisciplinary team was formed to undertake a root cause analysis and develop a strategy for change. The main barriers to adherence to IPC measures were limited knowledge of IPC methods and stigma associated with TB. Specifically, the project aimed to increase the number of: ‘airborne precaution’ signs placed above patients’ beds, patients correctly isolated and patients wearing surgical face masks. Four Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles were used. The strategy for change involved education and awareness-raising in different formats, including formal in-service training delivered to nurses and doctors, a hospital-wide TB awareness week with engaging activities and competitions, and a World TB Day provincial solidarity march. Data on adherence to the three IPC measures were collected over an 8-month period. Pre-intervention (October 2016), a mean of 2% of patients wore face masks, 22% were correctly isolated and 12% had an airborne precaution sign. Post-intervention (May 2017), the compliance improved to 17%, 50% and 25%, respectively. There was a large variation in compliance to each measure. Improvement was greatest in the number of patients correctly isolated. We learnt it is important to work with, not in parallel to, existing teams or structures during QI work. On-the-ground training of nurses and clinicians should be undertaken alongside engagement of senior staff members and managers. This improves the chance of change being adopted into hospital policy.

scholarly journals Healthcare-associated SARS-CoV-2 transmission in a neonatal unit: the importance of universal masking, hand hygiene and symptom screening in containment

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
S L Holgate ◽  
A Dramowski ◽  
M van Niekerk ◽  
H Hassan ◽  
Y Prinsloo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Health Care Worker ◽  
Neonatal Unit ◽  
Preterm Neonates ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Symptom Screening ◽  
Containment Measures ◽  
Healthcare Associated ◽  
Care Worker

Abstract Following exposure to a health care worker with an influenza-like illness, two preterm neonates and six staff members developed symptoms and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. This neonatal unit COVID-19 outbreak occurred prior to implementation of universal masking and symptom screening policies. Both neonates and all staff recovered, with no further healthcare-associated SARS-CoV-2 transmission following implementation of effective outbreak containment measures.

scholarly journals Association between the school physical activity environment, measured and self-reported student physical activity and active transport behaviours in Victoria, Australia

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Crooks ◽  
Laura Alston ◽  
Melanie Nichols ◽  
Kristy A. Bolton ◽  
Steven Allender ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Active Transport ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
School Principal ◽  
Primary School Children ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Physical Activity Environment ◽  
Policy Practice ◽  
Socioeconomic Composition

Abstract Background Environments within schools including the physical, social-cultural and policy/practice environments have the potential to influence children’s physical activity (PA) behaviours and weight status. This Australian first study comprehensively examined the association(s) of physical, social-cultural and policy/practice environments with PA, active transport (AT) and weight status among regional primary school children. Methods Data were from two childhood obesity monitoring systems in regional Victoria, Australia. Measured height and weight were collected from students in Year 2 (aged approx. 7–8 years), Year 4 (9–10 years), and Year 6 (11–12 years). Self–reported PA behaviour, including AT were collected from students in Year 4 and 6 and a sub-sample wore an ActiGraph (wGT3X-BT) accelerometer for 7-days. A school physical activity environment audit was completed by the school principal and responses were used to calculate school physical activity environment scores (PAES) and active transport environment scores (ATES). Mixed effects logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between the proportion of students meeting the PA guidelines (≥60mins/day of moderate-to-vigorous PA) and PAES tertiles (low, medium, high) and those using AT and school ATES tertiles, controlling for gender, school size/type and socioeconomic composition. Results The analysed sample included 54/146 (37%) schools and 3360/5376 (64%) students. In stratified analysis, girls in schools with a medium PAES score were more likely to meet the objectively measured PA guideline compared to low PAES score (OR 2.3, 95%CI 1.27, 4.16). Similarly, students in schools with a medium or high ATES score had higher odds of self-reported AT (medium OR 3.15, 95%CI 1.67, 5.94; high OR 3.71, 95%CI: 1.80, 7.64). No association between PAES or ATES and weight status were observed. Self-reported AT among boys (OR 1.59, 95%CI 1.19, 2.13) and girls (OR 1.56, 95%CI 1.08, 2.27) was associated with higher odds of meeting self-reported PA guidelines on all 7-days than those who did not report using AT. Conclusions In this study of regional Victorian primary schools, PA environments were only associated with girls’ adherence to PA guidelines. School AT environments were strongly associated with students’ AT behaviours and with increased likelihood of students being physically active.

scholarly journals An analysis of infection control of varicella-zoster virus infections in Addenbrooke's Hospital Cambridge over a 5-year period, 1987–92

1996 ◽  
Vol 117 (1) ◽  
pp. 165-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. G. Wreghitt ◽  
J. Whipp ◽  
C. Redpath ◽  
W. Hollingworth
Keyword(s):  
Nosocomial Infection ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Prospective Study ◽  
Varicella Zoster Virus ◽  
Virus Infections ◽  
Patient Case ◽  
Varicella Zoster ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Spread Of Infection ◽  
The Cost

SummaryThis prospective study analyses infections with varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge during 1987–92 and examines the spread of infection. In total, 93 patients and staff experienced VZV infection. Twenty-one patients had varicella and 49 experienced zoster. None of 101 patients and 1 of 625 staff members in contact with varicella cases acquired infection. By contrast, 2 of 227 patients, and 5 of 1039 staff in contact with zoster cases acquired varicella. One out of 28 (3·6%) VZV antibody-negative patients and staff in contact with varicella acquired infection, compared with 5 out of 29 (17·2%) VZV antibody-negative patients and staff in contact with zoster. Thus, zoster was found to be a more frequent cause of nosocomial infection than varicella. Fourteen members of staff had VZV infection during the study period. One of 99 patients and none of 389 staff members in contact with these cases developed varicella. The cost of dealing with infection control for VZV infections in our hospital is estimated to be £714 per patient case and a total of £13204 per year.

Hospital Experience with Varicella-Zoster Virus

1986 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 312-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith Krasinski ◽  
Robert S. Holzman ◽  
Rita LaCouture ◽  
Alfred Florman
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Varicella Zoster Virus ◽  
Hospital Staff ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Varicella Zoster ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Serologic Testing ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
History Of

AbstractVaricella-zoster virus (VZV), one of the most common highly communicable agents of disease, stimulates aggressive infection control measures. In a 1-year period, at one hospital, at least 93 inpatients (82 adult patients, 11 pediatric patients) and 2 hospital staff with active varicella-zoster infections served as potential sources of nosocomial infection. Six incidents of exposure to the virus that occurred without the protection of standard infection control precautions were investigated by the infection control surveillance team. One hundred fifty-six patients and 353 hospital staff were exposed. Fifty-one patients had no history of varicella-zoster infection, but only five were susceptible by serologic testing. One hundred one staff members had no history of varicella-zoster, but only 11 were susceptible by serologic testing. These exposures resulted in three secondary varicella-zoster infections, six courses of varicella-zoster immune globulin prophylaxis and furlough of 13 staff members. Epidemiologic investigation consumed approximately 356 hours of staff time, and management of exposed persons cost approximately $41,500. Prospective knowledge of the immune status of health care workers would vastly decrease the time and effort required to control hospital VZV exposures.

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