Abstract
Background: Nosocomial infections are a major problem in health care facilities, resulting in
extended durations of care, substantial morbidity and mortality, and excess costs.
Since alcohol gel hand sanitizers combine high immediate antimicrobial efficacy with
ease of use, this study was carried out to determine the effect of the use of an alcohol
gel hand sanitizer by caregivers on infection types and rates in an acute care facility.
Patients were educated about the study through a poster on the unit, and teachable
patients were given portable bottles of the alcohol hand gel for bedside use, along
with an educational brochure explaining how and why to practice good hand hygiene.
Methods: Infection rate and type data were collected in 1 unit of a 498-bed acute care facility
for 16 months (February 2000 to May 2001). An alcohol gel hand sanitizer was provided
and used by caregivers in the orthopedic surgical unit of the facility during this
period. Results: The primary infection types (more than 80%) found were urinary tract (UTI) and surgical
site (SSI) infections. Infection types and rates for the unit during the period the
alcohol hand sanitizer (intervention) was used were compared with the infection types
and rates for the same unit when the alcohol hand sanitizer was not used (baseline);
the results demonstrated a 36.1% decrease in infection rates for the 10-month period
that the hand sanitizer was used. Conclusion: This study indicates that use of an alcohol gel hand sanitizer can decrease infection
rates and provide an additional tool for an effective infection control program in
acute care facilities. (Am J Infect Control 2003;31:109-16.)
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Footnotes
*Reprint requests: Brian S. Hammond, GOJO Industries, 1 GOJO Plaza, Akron, OH 44311.
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© 2003 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
