Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dsjbd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-30T20:12:26.618Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Handwashing Quality: Impact of a Special Program

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Bruno Coignard
Affiliation:
Service d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire, Lille, France
Bruno Grandbastien*
Affiliation:
Service d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire, Lille, France
Yasmina Berrouane
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Bactériologie-Hygiène, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire, Lille, France
Christiane Krembel
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Bactériologie-Hygiène, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire, Lille, France
Martine Queverue
Affiliation:
Unité de Lutte contre les Infections Nosocomiales, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire, Lille, France
Jean-Louis Salomez
Affiliation:
Service d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire, Lille, France
Guy Martin
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Bactériologie-Hygiène, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire, Lille, France
*
Service d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Hôpital A. Calmette, CHRU de Lille, F 59037 Lille Cedex, France; e-mail, [email protected]

Abstract

To evaluate the impact of a program on basic handwashing quality, a before-after audit was performed in a university hospital. We defined a 13-step protocol to describe a proper basic handwash (BHW). The proportion of BHW that satisfied this checklist increased significantly, from 4.2% before the program to 18.6% after, but these low proportions suggest that simpler alternatives to BHW should be studied

Type
Concise Communications
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1998

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. Larson, E. A causal link between handwashing and risk of infection? Examination of evidence. Infect Control 1988;9:2836.Google Scholar
2. Albert, RK, Condie, F. Hand-washing patterns in medical intensive-care units. N Engl J Med 1981;304:14651466.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3. Pittet, D, Mourouga, P, Sauvan, V, Touveneau, S, members of the Infection Control Program. Factors associated with poor hand-washing compliance. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1996;17(suppl):P24.Google Scholar
4. Gould, D. Nurses' hand decontamination practice: results of a local study. J Hosp Infect 1994;28:1530.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5. Lucet, JC, Régnier, B. Programmes de prévention des infections à germes multi-résistants en réanimation. In: Société de Réanimation de Langue Française, ed. LInfection Acquise en Réanimation. Paris, France: Arnette Blackwell; 1995:223236.Google Scholar
6. Palmer, MB. Infection Control: A Policy and Procedure Manual. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Co; 1984:5255.Google Scholar
7. Larson, E. Compliance with isolation technique. Am J Infect Control 1983;11:221225.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8. Conly, JM, Hill, S, Ross, J, Lertzman, J, Louie, TJ. Handwashing practices in an intensive care unit: the effects of an educational program and its relationship to infection rates. Am J Infect Control 1989;17:330339.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9. Larson, EL, Bryan, JL, Adler, LM, Blane, C. A multifaceted approach to changing handwashing behavior. Am J Infect Control 1997;25:310.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10. Voss, A, Widmer, AF. No time for handwashing!? Handwashing versus alcoholic rub: can we afford 100% compliance? Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1997;18:205208.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed