Abstract
Healthcare-associated infection is an important cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Well-regulated infection control and hand hygiene are the most effective methods for preventing healthcare-associated infections. This study evaluated and compared conventional hand hygiene observation and an electronic hand-hygiene recording and reminder system for preventing healthcare-associated infections. This pre- and post-intervention study, employed an electronic hand-hygiene recording and reminder system for preventing healthcare-associated infections at a tertiary referral center. Healthcare-associated infection surveillance was recorded in an anesthesia and reanimation intensive care unit from April 2016 to August 2016. Hand-hygiene compliance was observed by conventional observation and an electronic recording and reminder system in two consecutive 2-month periods. healthcare-associated infections were calculated as incidence rate ratios. The rate of healthcare-associated infections in the electronic hand- hygiene recording and reminder system period was significantly decreased compared with that in the conventional hand-hygiene observation period (incidence rate ratio = 0.58; 95% confident interval = 0.33-0.98). Additionally, the rate of central line-associated bloodstream infections and the rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia were lower during the electronic hand hygiene recording and reminder system period (incidence rate ratio= 0.41; 95% confident interval = 0.11-1.30 and incidence rate ratio = 0.67; 95% confident interval = 0.30-1.45, respectively). After implementing the electronic hand hygiene recording and reminder system, we observed a significant decrease in healthcare-associated infections and invasive device-associated infections. These results were encouraging and suggested that electronic hand hygiene reminder and recording systems may reduce some types of healthcare-associated infections in healthcare settings.
Highlights
Healthcare-associated infection is an important cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide
This study evaluated and compared the use of conventional hand-hygiene observation and electronic hand hygiene reminding and recording systems (EHHRRSs) for preventing Healthcare-associated infection (HCAI) in an anesthesia and reanimation intensive care unit (ICU)
After the EHHRRS intervention, hand-hygiene compliance increased to 89.2%
Summary
Healthcare-associated infection is an important cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. This study evaluated and compared conventional hand hygiene observation and an electronic hand-hygiene recording and reminder system for preventing healthcare-associated infections. Results: The rate of healthcare-associated infections in the electronic hand- hygiene recording and reminder system period was significantly decreased compared with that in the conventional hand-hygiene observation period (incidence rate ratio = 0.58; 95% confident interval = 0.330.98). Conclusions: After implementing the electronic hand hygiene recording and reminder system, we observed a significant decrease in healthcareassociated infections and invasive device-associated infections. Healthcare-associated infection (HCAI) is an important cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, with approximately 2 million infections and 100,000 deaths per year [1]. Nosocomial infections have been the most important quality indicators of inpatient healthcare institutions For this reason, well-regulated infection control and hand hygiene are the most effective methods for preventing HCAIs [2]. The guidelines emphasize monitoring hand-hygiene compliance to provide feedback to healthcare workers through education and encouraging behavioral changes [5,6]
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