scholarly journals Observing and Improving Hand Hygiene Compliance Implementation and Refinement of an Electronic-Assisted Direct-Observer Hand Hygiene Audit Program

2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 207-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke F. Chen ◽  
Charlene Carriker ◽  
Russell Staheli ◽  
Pamela Isaacs ◽  
Brandon Elliott ◽  
...  

We implemented a direct-observer hand hygiene audit program that used trained observers, wireless data entry devices, and an intranet portal. We improved the reliability and utility of the data by standardizing audit processes, regularly retraining auditors, developing an audit guidance tool, and reporting weighted composite hand hygiene compliance scores.

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (12) ◽  
pp. 1420-1427 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Staines ◽  
Isabelle Amherdt ◽  
Estelle Lécureux ◽  
Christiane Petignat ◽  
Philippe Eggimann ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVETo assess hand hygiene improvement and sustainability associated with a Breakthrough Collaborative.DESIGNMulticenter analysis of hand hygiene compliance through direct observation by trained observers.SETTINGA total of 5 publicly funded hospitals in 14 locations, with a total of 1,152 beds, in the County of Vaud, Switzerland.PARTICIPANTSClinical staff.INTERVENTIONSIn total, 59,272 opportunities for hand hygiene were monitored for the duration of the study, for an average of 5,921 per audit (range, 5,449–6,852). An 18-month Hand Hygiene Breakthrough Collaborative was conducted to implement the WHO multimodal promotional strategy including improved access to alcohol-based hand rub, education, performance measurement and feedback, reminders and communication, leadership engagement, and safety culture.RESULTSOverall hand hygiene compliance improved from 61.9% to 88.3% (P<.001) over 18 months and was sustained at 88.9% (P=.248) 12 months after the intervention. Hand hygiene compliance among physicians increased from 62% to 85% (P<.001) and finally 86% at follow-up (P=.492); for nursing staff, compliance improved from 64% to 90% (P<.001) and finally 90% at follow-up (P=.464); for physiotherapists compliance improved from 50% to 90% (P<.001) and finally 91% at follow-up (P=.619); for X-ray technicians compliance improved from 45% to 80% (P<.001) and finally 81% at follow-up (P=.686). Hand hygiene compliance also significantly increased with sustained improvement across all hand hygiene indications and all hospitals.CONCLUSIONSA rigorously conducted multicenter project combining the Breakthrough Collaborative method for its structure and the WHO multimodal strategy for content and measurement was associated with significant and substantial improvement in compliance across all professions, all hand hygiene indications, and all participating hospitals.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2017;38:1420–1427


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s93-s94
Author(s):  
Linda Huddleston ◽  
Sheila Bennett ◽  
Christopher Hermann

Background: Over the past 10 years, a rural health system has tried 10 different interventions to reduce hospital-associated infections (HAIs), and only 1 intervention has led to a reduction in HAIs. Reducing HAIs is a goal of nearly all hospitals, and improper hand hygiene is widely accepted as the main cause of HAIs. Even so, improving hand hygiene compliance is a challenge. Methods: Our facility implemented a two-phase longitudinal study to utilize an electronic hand hygiene reminder system to reduce HAIs. In the first phase, we implemented an intervention in 2 high-risk clinical units. The second phase of the study consisted of expanding the system to 3 additional clinical areas that had a lower incidence of HAIs. The hand hygiene baseline was established at 45% for these units prior to the voice reminder being turned on. Results: The system gathered baseline data prior to being turned on, and our average hand hygiene compliance rate was 49%. Once the voice reminder was turned on, hand hygiene improved nearly 35% within 6 months. During the first phase, there was a statistically significant 62% reduction in the average number of HAIs (catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), central-line–acquired bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), and Clostridiodes difficile experienced in the preliminary units, comparing 12 months prior to 12 months after turning on the voice reminder. In the second phase, hand hygiene compliance increased to >65% in the following 6 months. During the second phase, all HAIs fell by a statistically significant 60%. This was determined by comparing the HAI rates 6 months prior to the voice reminder being turned on to 6 months after the voice reminder was turned on. Conclusions: The HAI data from both phases were aggregated, and there was a statistically significant reduction in MDROs by 90%, CAUTIs by 60%, and C. difficile by 64%. This resulted in annual savings >$1 million in direct costs of nonreimbursed HAIs.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None


Author(s):  
Nai-Chung Chang ◽  
Michael Jones ◽  
Heather Schacht Reisinger ◽  
Marin L. Schweizer ◽  
Elizabeth Chrischilles ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective: To determine whether the order in which healthcare workers perform patient care tasks affects hand hygiene compliance. Design: For this retrospective analysis of data collected during the Strategies to Reduce Transmission of Antimicrobial Resistant Bacteria in Intensive Care Units (STAR*ICU) study, we linked consecutive tasks healthcare workers performed into care sequences and identified task transitions: 2 consecutive task sequences and the intervening hand hygiene opportunity. We compared hand hygiene compliance rates and used multiple logistic regression to determine the adjusted odds for healthcare workers (HCWs) transitioning in a direction that increased or decreased the risk to patients if healthcare workers did not perform hand hygiene before the task and for HCWs contaminating their hands. Setting: The study was conducted in 17 adult surgical, medical, and medical-surgical intensive care units. Participants: HCWs in the STAR*ICU study units. Results: HCWs moved from cleaner to dirtier tasks during 5,303 transitions (34.7%) and from dirtier to cleaner tasks during 10,000 transitions (65.4%). Physicians (odds ratio [OR]: 1.50; P < .0001) and other HCWs (OR, 2.15; P < .0001) were more likely than nurses to move from dirtier to cleaner tasks. Glove use was associated with moving from dirtier to cleaner tasks (OR, 1.22; P < .0001). Hand hygiene compliance was lower when HCWs transitioned from dirtier to cleaner tasks than when they transitioned in the opposite direction (adjusted OR, 0.93; P < .0001). Conclusions: HCWs did not organize patient care tasks in a manner that decreased risk to patients, and they were less likely to perform hand hygiene when transitioning from dirtier to cleaner tasks than the reverse. These practices could increase the risk of transmission or infection.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s304-s305
Author(s):  
Angela Chow ◽  
Wei Zhang ◽  
Joshua Wong ◽  
Brenda Ang

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a growing clinical problem in rehabilitation hospitals, where patients stay for extended periods for intensive rehabilitation therapy. In addition to cutaneous sites, the nares could be a source for nosocomial MRSA transmission. Decolonization of nasal and cutaneous reservoirs could reduce MRSA acquisition. We evaluated the effectiveness of topical intranasal octenidine gel, coupled with universal chlorhexidine baths, in reducing MRSA acquisition in an extended-care facility. Methods: We conducted a quasi-experimental before-and-after study from January 2013 to June 2019. All patients admitted to a 100-bed rehabilitation hospital specialized in stroke and trauma care in Singapore were screened for MRSA colonization on admission. Patients screened negative for MRSA were subsequently screened at discharge for MRSA acquisition. Screening swabs were obtained from the nares, axillae, and groin and were cultured on selective chromogenic agar. Patients who tested positive for MRSA from clinical samples collected >3 days after admission were also considered to have hospital-acquired MRSA. Universal chlorhexidine baths were implemented throughout the study period. Intranasal application of octenidine gel for MRSA colonizers for use for 5 days from admission was added to the hospital’s protocol beginning in September 2017. An interrupted time series with segmented regression analysis was performed to evaluate the trends in MRSA acquisition before the intervention (January 2013–July 2017) and after the intervention (September 2017–June 2019) with intranasal octenidine. August 2017 was excluded from the analysis because the intervention commenced midmonth. Results: In total, 77 observational months (55 before the intervention and 22 after the intervention) were included. The mean monthly MRSA acquisition rates were 7.0 per 1,000 patient days before the intervention and 4.4 per 1,000 patient days after the intervention (P < .001), with a mean number of patient days of 2,516.3 per month before the intervention and 2,427.2 per month after the intervention (P = .0172). The mean monthly number of MRSA-colonized patients on admission to the hospital decreased from 24.8 before the intervention to 18.7 after the intervention (P < .001). Mean monthly hand hygiene compliance rate increased significantly from 65.7% before the intervention to 87.4% after the intervention (P < .001). After adjusting for the number of MRSA-colonized patients on admission and hand hygiene compliance rates, a constant trend was observed from January 2013 to July 2017 (adjusted mean coefficient, 0.012; 95% CI, −0.037 to 0.06), with an immediate drop in September 2017 (adjusted mean coefficient, −2.145; 95% CI, −0.248 to −0.002; P = .033), followed by a significant reduction in MRSA acquisition after the intervention from September 2017 through June 2019 (adjusted mean coefficient, −0.125; 95% CI, -4.109 to -0.181; P = .047). Conclusions: Topical intranasal octenidine, coupled with universal chlorhexidine baths, can reduce MRSA acquisition in extended-care facilities. Further studies should be conducted to validate the findings in other healthcare settings.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None


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