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Hand hygiene compliance in a Brazilian COVID-19 unit: the impact of moments and contact precautions
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Hand hygiene compliance in a Brazilian COVID-19 unit: the impact of moments and contact precautions

Marília Duarte Valim, Jéssica Regina Rossetto, Juliano Bortolini and Loreen Herwaldt
Antimicrobial resistance & infection control, Vol.13(1), 7
01/22/2024
DOI: 10.1186/s13756-023-01356-3
PMCID: PMC10801978
PMID: 38254156
url
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-023-01356-3View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Healthcare-associated infections are among the most common complications during hospitalization. These infections increase morbidity and mortality and they increase length of hospital stay and the cost of healthcare. The aims of our study were to monitor hand hygiene (HH) compliance, HH technique quality and factors related to HH practice among health professionals in a COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU). An observational, prospective study. Between September and December 2021, we observed 69 healthcare professionals in an eight-bed ICU for patients with COVID-19 in midwestern Brazil. We used the WHO observation form to collect data. The dependent variable was HH compliance and independent variables were professional category, sex, HH quality (3-step technique for at least 15 s), number of HH opportunities observed, observation shift and inappropriate glove use. We observed 1185 HH opportunities. The overall compliance rate was 26.4%, but only 6.5% were performed with the correct 3-step technique for the minimum time. HH compliance was considerably lower for moments "before" tasks (6.7%; 95% CI 4.8%, 9.2%) compared with moments "after" tasks (43.8%; 95% CI 39.9%, 47.8%). The logistic model found that inappropriate glove use, night shift and physicians (p < 0.001) were associated with low HH compliance. The infrastructure analysis found that the unit had an insufficient number of alcohol-based handrub (ABHR) dispensers at the point of care and that the mechanism for activating them was poorly designed. HH compliance was very low. Inappropriate glove use was associated with low compliance and the unit's infrastructure did not support good HH practice. The fact that healthcare professionals were more likely to do HH after tasks, suggests that they use HH to protect themselves rather than the patients. Adequate infrastructure and ongoing health education with a focus on HH while caring for patients in contact precautions are essential for improving HH compliance and patient safety.
 Brazil - epidemiology COVID-19 - prevention & control Cross Infection - prevention & control Hand Hygiene Humans Prospective Studies

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