Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-vdxz6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-01T03:55:05.111Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Hand Antisepsis: Evaluation of a Sprayer System for Alcohol Distribution

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Karine Barrau ,
Clarisse Rovery ,
Michel Drancourt  and
Philippe Brouqui
Karine Barrau
Affiliation:
Service de Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Nord, Hôtel-Dieu Marseille, France
Clarisse Rovery
Affiliation:
Service de Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Nord, Hôtel-Dieu Marseille, France
Michel Drancourt
Affiliation:
Comité de Lutte contre les Infections Nosocomiales, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, Hôtel-Dieu Marseille, France
Philippe Brouqui*
Affiliation:
Service de Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Nord, Hôtel-Dieu Marseille, France Comité de Lutte contre les Infections Nosocomiales, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, Hôtel-Dieu Marseille, France
*
Service de Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Nord, chemin des Bourrelys, 13015 Marseille, France
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective:

To evaluate the usefulness of a new alcohol sprayer by comparing it with an individual bottle of alcohol. Patterns of use and perceptions among healthcare personnel were compared for the two products.

Design:

Observational study recording the volume of alcohol used and the compliance rate (frequency of hand antisepsis per number of opportunities), and a survey of healthcare workers' perceptions of the different hand hygiene strategies.

Setting:

A 20-bed medical unit in a public hospital in Marseille, France.

Participants:

Healthcare workers of an infectious disease unit.

Interventions:

Hand hygiene alcohol systems (sprayer vs individual bottle, 70% ethyl alcohol).

Results:

The sprayer was used more frequently than the individual bottle (12.6 vs 9.7 hand washes per day). With the sprayer system, compliance was 91% for physicians, 28% for nurses, and 8% for housekeeping personnel. Alcohol hand antisepsis was preferred to washing hands with soap and water in low-risk situations such as simple entrance into a room (91% vs 36%; P < 10-6) or simple contact with a patient (69% vs 40%; P < .005). The sprayer system was considered easier to use (95%), more hygienic (90%), and faster (92%), with a better tolerance than the individual bottle.

Conclusion:

The new alcohol sprayer should improve rapid hand antisepsis.

Type
Orginal Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 24 , Issue 3 , March 2003 , pp. 180 - 183
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2003

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.Jarvis, WR. Selected aspects of the socioeconomic impact of nosocomial infections: morbidity, mortality, cost and prevention. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1996;17:552–557.Google Scholar
2.Larson, E. Skin hygiene and infection prevention: more of the same or different approaches? Clin Infect Dis 1999;29:1287–1294.Google Scholar
3.Larson, EL. APIC guideline for handwashing and hand antisepsis in health care settings. Am J Infect Control 1995;23:251–269.Google Scholar
4.Daschner, F. Useful and useless hygienic techniques in intensive care units. Intensive Care Med 1985;11:280–283.Google Scholar
5.Handwashing Liaison Group. Hand washing: a modest measure—with big effects. BMJ 1999;318:686.Google Scholar
6.Larson, EL, Killien, M. Factors influencing handwashing behavior of patient care personnel. Am J Infect Control 1982;10:93–99.Google Scholar
7.Doebbeling, BN, Stanley, GL, Sheetz, CT, et al.Comparative efficacy of alternative hand-washing agents in reducing nosocomial infections in intensive care units. N Engl J Med 1992;327:88–93.Google Scholar
8.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.Google Scholar
9.Inglis, TJJ, Sproat, LJ, Hawkey, PM, Knappett, P. Infection control in intensive units: UK national survey. Br J Anaesth 1992;68:216–220.Google Scholar
10.Garner, JS, Favero, MS. CDC guideline for handwashing and hospital environmental control, 1985. Infect Control 1986;7:231–243.Google Scholar
11.Sproat, LJ, Inglis, TJ. A multicentre survey of hand hygiene practice in intensive care units. J Hosp Infect 1994;26:137–148.Google Scholar
12.Thompson, BL, Dwyer, DM, Ussery, XT, Denman, S, Vacek, P, Schwartz, B. Handwashing and glove use in a long-term care facility. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1997;18:97–103.Google Scholar
13.Pittet, D, Mourouga, P, Perneger, TV. Compliance with handwashing in a teaching hospital. Ann Intern Med 1999;130:126–130.Google Scholar
14.Bischoff, WE, Reynolds, TM, Sessler, CN, Edmond, MB, Wenzel, RP. Handwashing compliance by health care workers: the impact of introducing an accessible, alcohol-based hand antiseptic. Arch Intern Med 2000;160:1017–1021.Google Scholar
15.Voss, A, Widmer, AF. No time for handwashing! Handwashing versus alcoholic rub: can we afford 100% compliance? Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1997;18:205–208.Google Scholar
16.Boyce, JM. Is it time for action: improving hand hygiene in hospitals. Ann Intern Med 1999;130:153–155.Google Scholar
17.Harbarth, S. Handwashing: the Semmelweis lesson misunderstood? Clin Infect Dis 2000;30:990–991.Google Scholar
18.Butz, AM, Laughon, BE, Gullette, DL, Larson, EL. Alcohol-impregnated wipes as an alternative in hand hygiene. Am J Infect Control 1990;18:70–76.Google Scholar
19.Dyer, DL, Gerenraich, KB, Wadhalms, PJ. Testing a new alcohol-free hand sanitizer to combat infection. AORN J 1998;68:239–251.Google Scholar
20.Larson, EL, Eke, PI, Laughon, BE. Efficacy of alcohol-based hand rinses under frequent-use conditions. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 1986;30:542–544.Google Scholar
21.Rotter, ML. Hygienic hand disinfection. Infect Control 1984;5:18–22.Google Scholar
22.Tibballs, J. Teaching hospital medical staff to handwash. Med J Aust 1996;164:395–398.Google Scholar