Hand hygiene compliance for patient safety

Abstract

Published evidence suggests that healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) are avoidable and infection prevention and control (IPC) strategies provide cost-effective solutions. The NHS Outcomes Framework ( Department of Health, 2010 ) Domain 5 recognises that patient safety is of paramount importance in terms of quality of care and to delivering better health outcomes. Preventing HCAIs is necessary in reducing the severity of harm and is a key performance indicator. It is vital that NHS organisations ask themselves how they can help to improve the safety of patients. The seven steps to patient safety ( National Patient Safety Agency, 2004 ) is a guide to good practice, which covers building a safer culture and managing, reporting and learning from patient safety incidents. This article highlights how improving hand hygiene compliance can improve patient care, prevents HCAIs and is fundamentality a patient safety prerequisite.