Relationship between healthcare worker surface contacts, care type and hand hygiene: an observational study in a single-bed hospital ward. Issue 1 (September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: King, M-F.; Noakes, C.J.; Sleigh, P.A.; Bale, S.; Waters, L.
• Is Part Of: Journal of hospital infection. Volume 94:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 48
• Page End: 51
• Publication Date: 2016-09
• Subjects: Hospital-acquired infection -- Hand hygiene -- Surface contacts; Cross infection -- Periodicals; Cross infection -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Nosocomial infections -- Periodicals; Nosocomial infections -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Cross Infection -- Periodicals; Cross Infection -- prevention & control -- Periodicals; Infection Control -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 614.44
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2016.05.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0195-6701

Abstract

Summary: This study quantifies the relationship between hand hygiene and the frequency with which healthcare workers (HCWs) touch surfaces in patient rooms. Surface contacts and hand hygiene were recorded in a single-bed UK hospital ward for six care types. Surface contacts often formed non-random patterns, but hygiene before or after patient contact depends significantly on care type ( P =0.001). The likelihood of hygiene correlated with the number of surface contacts (95% confidence interval 1.1–5.8, P =0.002), but not with time spent in the room. This highlights that a potential subconscious need for hand hygiene may have developed in HCWs, which may support and help focus future hygiene education programmes.