scholarly journals Hand Hygiene Evaluation Using Two Different Evaluation Tools and Hand Contamination of Veterinary Healthcare Workers in a Swiss Companion Animal Clinic

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 260
Author(s):  
Kira Schmitt ◽  
Anna Barbara Emilia Zimmermann ◽  
Roger Stephan ◽  
Barbara Willi

Hand hygiene (HH) is the most important measure to prevent nosocomial infections. HH compliance in companion animal clinics has been reported to be poor. The present study compared an online application with the WHO evaluation form to assess the WHO five moments of HH in a Swiss companion animal clinic. In 202 hand swabs from 87 staff members, total viable count (TVC) before and after patient contact was evaluated and the swabs were tested for selected antimicrobial resistant microorganisms of public health importance. HH compliance (95% confidence interval) was 36.6% (33.8–39.5%) and was similar when assessed with the two evaluation tools. HH differed between hospital areas (p = 0.0035) and HH indications (p < 0.0001). Gloves were worn in 22.0% (18.0–26.6%) of HH observations and were indicated in 37.2% (27.3–48.3%) of these observations. Mean TVC before patient contact was lower (0.52 log CFU/cm2) than after patient contact (1.02 log CFU/cm2) but was similar before patient contact on gloved and ungloved hands. Three hand swabs (1.5% (0.4–4.3%)) were positive for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Gloving should not be regarded as a substitute for HH. Overall, HH in companion animal medicine should urgently be fostered.

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s457-s457
Author(s):  
Mohammed Lamorde ◽  
Matthew Lozier ◽  
Maureen Kesande ◽  
Patricia Akers ◽  
Olive Tumuhairwe ◽  
...  

Background: Ebola virus disease (EVD) is highly transmissible and has a high mortality rate. During outbreaks, EVD can spread across international borders. Inadequate hand hygiene places healthcare workers (HCWs) at increased risk for healthcare-associated infections, including EVD. In high-income countries, alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) can improve hand hygiene compliance among HCWs in healthcare facilities (HCF). We evaluated local production and district-wide distribution of a WHO-recommended ABHR formulation and associations between ABHR availability in HCF and HCW hand hygiene compliance. Methods: The evaluation included 30 HCF in Kabarole District, located in Western Uganda near the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where an EVD outbreak has been ongoing since August 2018. We recorded baseline hand hygiene practices before and after patient contact among 46 healthcare workers across 20 HCFs in August 2018. Subsequently, in late 2018, WHO/UNICEF distributed commercially produced ABHR to all 30 HCFs in Kabarole as part of Ebola preparedness efforts. In February 2019, our crossover evaluation distributed 20 L locally produced ABHR to each of 15 HCFs. From June 24–July 5, 2019, we performed follow-up observations of hand hygiene practices among 68 HCWs across all 30 HCFs. We defined hand hygiene as handwashing with soap or using ABHR. We conducted focus groups with healthcare workers at baseline and follow-up. Results: We observed hand hygiene compliance before and after 203 and 308 patient contacts at baseline and follow-up, respectively. From baseline to follow-up, hand hygiene compliance before patient contact increased for ABHR use (0% to 17%) and handwashing with soap (0% to 5%), for a total increase from 0% to 22% (P < .0001). Similarly, hand hygiene after patient contact increased from baseline to follow-up for ABHR use (from 3% to 55%), and handwashing with soap decreased (from 12% to 7%), yielding a net increase in hand hygiene compliance after patient contact from 15% to 62% (P < .0001). Focus groups found that HCWs prefer ABHR to handwashing because it is faster and more convenient. Conclusions: In an HCF in Kabarole District, the introduction of ABHR appeared to improve hand hygiene compliance. However, the confirmation of 3 EVD cases in Uganda 120 km from Kabarole District 2 weeks before our follow-up hand hygiene observations may have influenced healthcare worker behavior and hand hygiene compliance. Local production and district-wide distribution of ABHR is feasible and may contribute to improved hand hygiene compliance among healthcare workers.Funding: NoneDisclosures: Mohammed Lamorde, Contracted Research - Janssen Pharmaceutica, ViiV, Mylan


2015 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 272-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camille Pelat ◽  
Lidia Kardaś-Słoma ◽  
Gabriel Birgand ◽  
Etienne Ruppé ◽  
Michaël Schwarzinger ◽  
...  

BACKGROUNDThe best strategy for controlling extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-PE) transmission in intensive care units (ICUs) remains elusive.OBJECTIVEWe developed a stochastic transmission model to quantify the effectiveness of interventions aimed at reducing the spread of ESBL-PE in an ICU.METHODSWe modeled the evolution of an outbreak caused by the admission of a single carrier in a 10-bed ICU free of ESBL-PE. Using data obtained from recent muticenter studies, we studied 26 strategies combining different levels of the following 3 interventions: (1) increasing healthcare worker compliance with hand hygiene before and after contact with a patient; (2) cohorting; (3) reducing antibiotic prevalence at admission with or without reducing antibiotherapy duration.RESULTSImproving hand hygiene compliance from 55% before patient contact and 60% after patient contact to 80% before and 80% after patient contact reduced the nosocomial incidence rate of ESBL-PE colonization by 91% at 90 days. Adding cohorting to hand hygiene improvement intervention decreased the proportion of ESBL-PE acquisitions by an additional 7%. Antibiotic restriction had the lowest impact on the epidemic. When combined with other interventions, it only marginally improved effectiveness, despite strong hypotheses regarding antibiotic impact on transmission.CONCLUSIONOur results suggest that hand hygiene is the most effective intervention to control ESBL-PE transmission in an ICU.Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol. 2016;37(3):272–280


2019 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Amanda Pereira Leite ◽  
Maria Alenita De Oliveira ◽  
Rafaella De Menezes Leuthier ◽  
Josélio Rodrigues Oliveira Filho ◽  
Larissa Gabriella Alves Fernandes ◽  
...  

RESUMOObjetivo: avaliar o conhecimento e a compreensão dos profissionais da saúde em relação à prática de higiene das mãos. Método: trata-se de estudo quantitativo, descritivo, transversal, com 56 profissionais de um hospital filantrópico. Utilizaram-se, para a coleta de dados, dois questionários. Inseriram-se os dados em um banco de dados no Programa Microsoft® Office Excel, analisando-os por meio de estatística descritiva. Apresentaram-se os resultados em forma de tabelas. Resultados: verificou-se que 100% dos profissionais consideram importante a higienização das mãos e reconhecem as mãos como agente indutor de infecção e que a prática da higiene leva à sua prevenção; 64% afirmaram que praticam uma perfeita higienização antes e após o contato com o paciente. Observou-se, entretanto, após a avaliação da taxa de adesão a oportunidades de higiene de mãos, baixa taxa de adesão de 8,5%. Conclusão: revela-se que, apesar de a equipe de profissionais ter uma percepção adequada da importância da higienização das mãos e de ter conhecimento sobre o tema, isso não se reflete no cotidiano. Descritores: Higiene das Mãos; Segurança do Paciente; Infecção Hospitalar; Hospital; Assistência à Saúde; Prevenção de Doenças; Recursos Humanos em Saúde.  ABSTRACT Objective: to evaluate the knowledge and understanding of health professionals in relation to the practice of hand hygiene. Method: this is a quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study, with 56 professionals from a philanthropic hospital. Data collection occurred by means of two questionnaires. The data were entered into a database in Microsoft® Office Excel, analyzing them by means of descriptive statistics. The results are presented as tables. Results: 100% of the professionals consider hand hygiene important and recognize the hands as inducing agent of infection and that the practice of hygiene leads to its prevention; 64% reported carrying out a perfect hygiene before and after patient contact. However, the evaluation of the rate of adherence to opportunities of hand hygiene was low, with the 8.5%. Conclusion: although the team of professionals has an adequate perception of the importance of hand washing and has knowledge about the topic, this is not reflected in the routine. Descriptors: Hand Hygiene; Patient Safety; Cross Infection; Hospital; Health Care; Disease Prevention; Health Human Resources.   RESUMEN Objetivo: evaluar el conocimiento y la comprensión de los profesionales de la salud en relación con la práctica de la higiene de las manos. Método: se trata de un estudio cuantitativo, descriptivo, transversal, con 56 profesionales de un hospital filantrópico. Se utilizaron para la recolección de datos dos cuestionarios. Los datos fueron introducidos en una base de datos de Microsoft® Office Excel, y analizados por medio de estadísticas descriptivas. Los resultados se presentan en forma de tablas. Resultados: se encontró que 100% de los profesionales consideran importante la higiene de las manos y reconocen las manos como agentes inductores de la infección y que la práctica de la higiene conduce a su prevención; 64% dijieron que hacen una práctica perfecta de higiene antes y después del contacto con el paciente. También se observó, sin embargo, después de la evaluación de la tasa de adhesión a las oportunidades de higiene de manos, la baja adhesión, con 8,5%. Conclusión: se revela que, a pesar de que el equipo de profesionales tiene una adecuada percepción de la importancia de lavarse las manos y tiene conocimientos sobre el tema, pero no lo hacen en su cotidiano. Descriptores: Higiene de las Manos; Seguridad del Paciente; Infección Hospitalaria; Hospitales; Atención de Salud; Prevención de Enfermedades; Recursos Humanos en Salud.


2009 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 172-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sussie Laustsen ◽  
Elisabeth Lund ◽  
Bo Martin Bibby ◽  
Brian Kristensen ◽  
Ane Marie Thulstrup ◽  
...  

Objective.To investigate the rate of adherence by hospital staff members to the correct use of alcohol-based hand rub before and after performance of clinical procedures.Design.A cohort study conducted during the period from 2006 through 2007 and 2 cross-sectional studies conducted in 2006 and 2007.Setting.Århus University Hospital, Skejby, in Århus, Denmark.Participants.Various hospital staff members.Methods.Following an ongoing campaign promoting the correct use of alcohol-based hand rub, we observed rates of adherence by hospital staff to the correct use of alcohol-based hand rub. Observations were made before and after each contact with patients or patient surroundings during 5 weekdays during the period from 2006 through 2007 in 10 different hospital units. A logistic regression model was used to estimate the rate of adherence to the correct use of alcohol-based hand rub before and after performance of a clinical procedure.Results.A total of 496 participants were observed during 22,906 opportunities for hand hygiene (ie, 11,177 before and 11,729 after clinical procedures) that required the use of alcohol-based hand rub. The overall rates of adherence to the correct use of alcohol-based hand rub were 62.3% (6,968 ofthe 11,177 opportunities) before performance and 68.6% (8,041 ofthe 11,729 opportunities) after performance of clinical procedures. Compared with male participants, female participants were significantly better at adhering to the correct use of alcohol-based hand rub before performance (odds ratio [OR] 1.51 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.09–2.10]) and after performance (OR, 1.73 [95% CI, 1.27–2.36]) of clinical procedures. In general, the rate of adherence was significantly higher after the performance of clinical procedures, compared with before (OR, 1.43 [95% CI, 1.35–1.52]). For our cohort of 214 participants who were observed during 14,319 opportunities, the rates of adherence to the correct use of alcohol-based hand rub were 63.2% (4,469 of the 7,071 opportunities) before performance and 69.3% (5,021 of the 7,248 opportunities) after performance of clinical procedures, and these rates increased significantly from 2006 to 2007, except for physicians.Conclusion.We found a high and increasing rate of adherence to the correct use of alcohol-based hand rub before and after performance of clinical procedures following a campaign that promoted the correct use of alcohol-based hand rub. More hospital staff performed hand hygiene with alcohol-based hand rub after performance of clinical procedures, compared with before performance. Future campaigns to improve the rate of adherence to the correct use of alcohol-based hand rub ought be aware that certain groups of hospital staff (eg, male staff members) are known to exhibit a low level of adherence to the correct use of alcohol-based hand rub.


2009 ◽  
Vol 4 (02) ◽  
pp. 118-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Supaletchimi Gopal Katherason ◽  
Lin Naing ◽  
Kamarudin Jaalam ◽  
Nik Abdullah Nik Mohamad ◽  
Kavita Bhojwani ◽  
...  

Background: Hand decontamination is a critical infection control practice in the prevention of nosocomial infection. This study was conducted to observe the hand hygiene practices of nurses and doctors in two intensive care units (ICUs) in Malaysia. Methodology: Staff members were observed during patient contacts, and their hand washing techniques and hand hygiene practices were monitored. Five contact periods were observed for staff members while they cared for their assigned patients. Hand hygiene practices before and after patient contacts were categorized as clean uncontaminated, clean recontaminated, new gloves, and unchanged contaminated gloves. Compliance to hand-washing steps and time taken for hand washing were analyzed. Appropriate use of gloves based on CDC criteria also was assessed. Results: Compliance to hand hygiene practices was 70% before each patient contact. Staff members did not completely adhere to the hand-washing steps. The average time taken to wash hands was 20 seconds, and the necessary steps (rubbing palm over dorsum; rubbing fingers interlaced, and rotational rubbing of thumbs) were practiced minimally by all staff. Hand washing protocol was generally followed by all staff (100%). Alcohol hand rubs were available but were used moderately (60%); when used, staff members did not wait for the alcohol to dry. Only 4% of staff changed contaminated gloves between patients. Conclusions: Hand hygiene compliance by ICU staff members needs to be improved. Improving adherence to correct hand hygiene techniques will require effective education programs and behavioral modification techniques. Moreover, hand hygiene guidelines must be incorporated into new staff orientation programs and the continuing education curriculum in the two hospitals studied.


Author(s):  
S L Holgate ◽  
A Dramowski ◽  
M van Niekerk ◽  
H Hassan ◽  
Y Prinsloo ◽  
...  

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.


Author(s):  
Elad Keren ◽  
Abraham Borer ◽  
Lior Nesher ◽  
Tali Shafat ◽  
Rivka Yosipovich ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective: To determine whether a multifaceted approach effectively influenced antibiotic use in an orthopedics department. Design: Retrospective cohort study comparing the readmission rate and antibiotic use before and after an intervention. Setting: A 1,000-bed, tertiary-care, university hospital. Patients: Adult patients admitted to the orthopedics department between January 2015 and December 2018. Methods: During the preintervention period (2015–2016), 1 general orthopedic department was in operation. In the postintervention period (2017–2018), 2 separate departments were created: one designated for elective “clean” surgeries and another that included a “complicated wound” unit. A multifaceted strategy including infection prevention measures and introducing antibiotic stewardship practices was implemented. Admission rates, hand hygiene practice compliance, surgical site infections, and antibiotic treatment before versus after the intervention were analyzed. Results: The number of admissions and hospitalization days in the 2 periods did not change. Seven-day readmissions per annual quarter decreased significantly from the preintervention period (median, 7 days; interquartile range [IQR], 6–9) to the postintervention period (median, 4 days; IQR, 2–7; P = .038). Hand hygiene compliance increased and surgical site infections decreased in the postintervention period. Although total antibiotic use was not reduced, there was a significant change in the breakdown of the different antibiotic classes used before and after the intervention: increased use of narrow-spectrum β-lactams (P < .001) and decreased use of β-lactamase inhibitors (P < .001), third-generation cephalosporins (P = .044), and clindamycin (P < .001). Conclusions: Restructuring the orthopedics department facilitated better infection prevention measures accompanied by antibiotic stewardship implementation, resulting in a decreased use of broad-spectrum antibiotics and a significant reduction in readmission rates.


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