Compliance with hand hygiene on surgical, medical, and neurologic intensive care units: Direct observation versus calculated disinfectant usage
published online 23 September 2009.
Background
Hand hygiene (HH) is considered the single most effective measure to prevent and control health care-associated infections (HAIs). Although there have been several reports on compliance rates (CRs) to HH recommendations, data for intensive care units (ICUs) in general and for shift- and indication-specific opportunities in particular are scarce.
Methods
The aim of this study was to collect data on ICU-, shift-, and indication-specific opportunities, activities and CRs at a surgical ICU (SICU), a medical ICU (MICU), and a neurologic ICU (NICU) at the University Hospital Aachen based on direct observation (DO) and calculated disinfectant usage (DU).
Results
Opportunities for HH recorded over a 24-hour period were significantly higher for the SICU (188 per patient day [PD]) and MICU (163 per PD) than for the NICU (124 per PD). Directly observed CRs were 39% (73/188) in the SICU, 72% (117/163) in the MICU, and 73% (90/124) in the NICU. However, CRs calculated as a measure of DU were considerably lower: 16% (29/188) in the SICU, 21% (34/163) in the MICU, and 25% (31/124) in the NICU. Notably, CRs calculated from DO were lowest before aseptic tasks and before patient contact.
Conclusions
To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first data picturing a complete day, including shift- and indication-specific analyses, and comparing directly observed CRs with those calculated based on DU, the latter of which revealed a 2.75-fold difference. Worrisomely, CRs were very low, especially concerning indications of greatest impact in preventing HAIs, such as before aseptic task. Thus, the gathering of additional data on CRs and the reasons for noncompliance is warranted.
aDepartment of Infection Control and Infectious Diseases, III University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
bDepartment of Intensive Care Medicine, III University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
cDepartment of Neurology, III University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
dMedical Department, III University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
Address correspondence to Simone Scheithauer, Department of Infection Control and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
ABSTRACT