Low Compliance to Handwashing Program and High Nosocomial Infection in a Brazilian Hospital

Lizandra Ferreira De Almeida E Borges,Paulo Pinto Gontijo Filho,Lilian Alves Rocha,Maria José Nunes

doi:10.1155/2012/579681

Lizandra Ferreira De Almeida E Borges, Paulo Pinto Gontijo Filho + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/579681

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Abstract

Background. It is a fact that hand hygiene prevents nosocomial infection, but compliance with recommended instructions is commonly poor. The purpose of this study was to implement a hand hygiene program for increase compliance with hand hygiene and its relationship with nosocomial infection (NI) and MRSA infection/colonization rates. Methods. Compliance to hand hygiene was evaluated in a hospital by direct observation and measured of health care-associated infections, including methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, before and after an educational intervention, using visual poster, colorful stamps, and feedback of the results. Results. Overall compliance did not increase during intervention, only handwashing before and after patient contact has improved from 40% to 76% (P = 0.01) for HCWs, but NI and MRSA rates remained high and stable. Conclusion. In a combination of high prevalence of NI and low compliance to hand hygiene, the programme of measure does not motivate the HCW hand hygiene. Future interventions should employ incremental evaluation to develop effective hand hygiene initiatives.

Highlights

Hand hygiene is the single most important measure of prevention and control of nosocomial infection and can significantly reduce the burden of disease, in particular in developing countries [1, 2]
This study was developed in four different wards clinical, surgical, pediatric, and adult medical-surgical intensive care unit (ICU) in a teaching hospital in Brazil, Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases under 12 months, after approval by the ethics committee of the institution
Two observers were trained to conduct the prevalence of nosocomial infection, methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) screening of patients, evaluation of hand hygiene adherence, and feedback of results

Summary

Introduction

Hand hygiene is the single most important measure of prevention and control of nosocomial infection and can significantly reduce the burden of disease, in particular in developing countries [1, 2]. Both nosocomial infection and colonization by methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have become increasingly common during the past two decades [8], especially in countries with limited resources [9]. The purpose of the present study was implementation of the program for increase hand hygiene compliance and its association with nosocomial infection (NI), MRSA infection, and colonization rates. The purpose of this study was to implement a hand hygiene program for increase compliance with hand hygiene and its relationship with nosocomial infection (NI) and MRSA infection/colonization rates. Compliance to hand hygiene was evaluated in a hospital by direct observation and measured of health care-associated infections, including methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, before and after an educational intervention, using visual poster, colorful stamps, and feedback of the results. Future interventions should employ incremental evaluation to develop effective hand hygiene initiatives

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Conclusion