Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2plfb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-30T21:30:47.518Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Low Frequency of Fires From Alcohol-Based Hand Rub Dispensers in Healthcare Facilities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

John M. Boyce*
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Hospital of Saint Raphael, andYale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
Michele L. Pearson
Affiliation:
Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
*
Section of Infectious Diseases, Hospital of Saint Raphael, 1450 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT 06511

Abstract

We administered a web-based questionnaire to SHEA, APIC, and EIN members to assess the frequency of fires associated with alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) dispensers in healthcare settings. None of the 798 responding facilities using ABHRs reported a dispenser-related fire; 766 facilities had accrued an estimated 1,430 hospital-years of ABHR use.

Type
Concise Communications
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.Rotter, ML, Koller, W, Neumann, R. The influence of cosmetic additives on the acceptability of alcohol-based hand disinfectants. J Hosp Infect 1991;18(suppl B):5763.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2.Widmer, AF. Replace hand washing with use of a waterless alcohol hand rub? Clin Infect Dis 2000;31:136143.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3.Voss, A, Schulin, T, Verweij, PE. Culture and infection control. Lancet 2003;361:1657.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4.Pittet, D, Boyce, JM. Hand hygiene and patient care: pursuing the Semmelweis legacy. Lancet Infect Dis 2001:920.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5.Boyce, JM, Pittet, D. Guideline for hand hygiene in health-care settings: recommendations of the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee and the HICPAC/SHEA/APIC/IDSA Hand Hygiene Task Force. MMWR 2002;51(RR16):148.Google ScholarPubMed
6.Pittet, D, Hugonnet, S, Harbarth, S, Mourouga, P, Sauvan, V, Touveneau, S. Effectiveness of a hospital-wide programme to improve compliance with hand hygiene. Lancet 2000;356:13071312.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7.Ligi, CE, Kohan, CA, Dumigan, DG, Havill, NL, Pittet, D, Boyce, JM. A mul-tifaceted approach to improving hand hygiene practices among healthcare workers using an alcohol-based hand gel. Presented at the 13th Annual Meeting of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America; April 5-8, 2003; Arlington, VA. Abstract 160.Google Scholar