Hand Hygiene: State-of-the-Art Review With Emphasis on New Technologies and Mechanisms of Surveillance

Alexandre Marra; Michael Edmond

doi:10.1007/s11908-012-0288-y

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Hand Hygiene: State-of-the-Art Review With Emphasis on New Technologies and Mechanisms of Surveillance

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Hand Hygiene: State-of-the-Art Review With Emphasis on New Technologies and Mechanisms of Surveillance

Alexandre Marra and Michael Edmond

Current Infectious Disease Reports, Vol.14(6), pp.585-591

12/2012

DOI: 10.1007/s11908-012-0288-y

PMID: 22922997

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Abstract

Hand hygiene (HH) is an important measure in infection prevention to decrease transmission of microbial pathogens; however, HH compliance by health-care workers (HCWs) remains suboptimal. One of the principal recommendations of current guidelines is that waterless, alcohol-based hand rubs are the preferred method for HH in most situations, due to the superior efficacy of these agents in rapidly reducing bacterial counts on hands and their ease of use. Improving HH compliance is a good quality indicator for hospital patient safety programs. Observers can follow HCWs to perform direct HH observations; however, HCWs may be prompted to clean their hands when observers are nearby, which does not represent real-world conditions. Moreover, having observers walk into patient rooms violates patient privacy and is time consuming. HH strategies using indirect metrics for surveillance (e.g., measuring the volume of HH products consumed) and the use of new technologies (e.g., electronic dispenser counters, radiofrequency, alcohol sensors, and video recording) will also be discussed.

Infectious Diseases

Alcohol-based hand rubs

Medicine & Public Health

Hand hygiene

Compliance

Electronic handwash counters

Details

Title: Subtitle: Hand Hygiene: State-of-the-Art Review With Emphasis on New Technologies and Mechanisms of Surveillance
Creators: Alexandre Marra - Instituto Israelita de Ensino e Pesquisa Albert Einstein, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein – 3rd floor Av. Albert Einstein, 627/701 Morumbi São Paulo Brazil 05651-901
Michael Edmond - Department of Internal Medicine Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine Richmond VA USA
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Current Infectious Disease Reports, Vol.14(6), pp.585-591
DOI: 10.1007/s11908-012-0288-y
PMID: 22922997
NLM abbreviation: Curr Infect Dis Rep
ISSN: 1523-3847
eISSN: 1534-3146
Publisher: Current Science Inc; New York
Language: English
Date published: 12/2012
Academic Unit: Infectious Diseases; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9983905528902771

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