Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-tj2md Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-23T22:27:49.740Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Effect of Correctly Using Alcohol-Based Hand Rub in a Clinical Setting

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Sussie Laustsen ,
Elisabeth Lund ,
Bo Martin Bibby ,
Brian Kristensen ,
Ane Marie Thulstrup  and
Jens Kjølseth Møller
Sussie Laustsen*
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Microbiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, Brendstrupgaardsvej, Aarhus, Denmark
Elisabeth Lund
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Microbiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, Brendstrupgaardsvej, Aarhus, Denmark
Bo Martin Bibby
Affiliation:
Department of Biostatistics, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark
Brian Kristensen
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Microbiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, Brendstrupgaardsvej, Aarhus, Denmark
Ane Marie Thulstrup
Affiliation:
Department of Occupational Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus Sygehus, Aarhus, Denmark
Jens Kjølseth Møller
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Microbiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, Brendstrupgaardsvej, Aarhus, Denmark
*
Department of Clinical Microbiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, Brendstrupgaardsvej 100, DK-8200 Aarhus N, Denmark (slt@sks.aaa.dk)
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

We evaluated hand antisepsis in clinical practice at Aarhus University Hospital in Skejby, Denmark. The rate of compliance with the correct use of alcohol-based hand rub exceeded 55% of all routine clinical procedures observed. With the correct use of alcohol-based hand rub by hospital staff, bacterial counts were reduced by 90% before and 82% after a clinical procedure; with incorrect use, the bacterial counts were reduced by 60% before and 54% after a clinical procedure.

Type
Concise Communication
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 29 , Issue 10 , October 2008 , pp. 954 - 956
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.World Health Organization (WHO). World Alliance for Patient Safety. WHO guidelines on hand hygiene in health care (advanced draft). Geneva, Switzerland: WHO Press, 2006.Google Scholar
2.Tvedt, C, Bukholm, G. Alcohol-based hand disinfection: a more robust hand-hygiene method in an intensive care unit. J Hosp Infect 2005;59:229–234.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3.Kac, G, Podglajen, I, Gueneret, M, Vaupre, S, Bissery, A, Meyer, G. Microbiological evaluation of two hand hygiene procedures achieved by healthcare workers during routine patient care: a randomized study. J Hosp Infect 2005;60:32–39.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4.Pittet, D, Hugonnet, S, Harbarth, S, et al.Effectiveness of a hospital-wide programme to improve compliance with hand hygiene. Lancet 2000;356:1307–1312.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5.Dharan, S, Hugonnet, S, Sax, H, Pittet, D. Comparison of waterless hand antisepsis agents at short application times: raising the flag of concern. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2003;24:160–164.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6.Boyce, JM, Pittet, D. Guideline for hand hygiene in health-care settings: recommendations of the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee and the HICPAC/SHEA/APIC/IDSA Hand Hygiene Task Force. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2002;23:S3–S40.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7.Sax, H, Allegranzi, B, Uçkay, I, Larson, E, Boyce, J, Pittet, D. ‘My five moments for hand hygiene’: a user-centred design approach to understand, train, monitor and report hand hygiene. J Hosp Infect 2007;67:9–21.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8.Pessoa-Silva, CL, Dharan, S, Hugonnet, S, et al.Dynamics of bacterial hand contamination during routine neonatal care. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2004;25:192–197.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9.Pittet, D, Dharan, S, Touveneau, S, Sauvan, V, Perneger, TV. Bacterial contamination of the hands of hospital staff during routine patient care. Arch Intern Med 1999;159:821–826.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10.Rotter, ML. Hygienic hand disinfection. Infect Control 1984;5:18–22.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed