| The Effects of the Hand Hygiene Initiative on Hand Hygiene Compliance and Nosocomial Infection Rate: an Experience in a Single Center Surgical ICU |
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Chang Sub Lee, Min Soo Kim, Young Joon Kang |
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| Abstract |
Background
Between 5~10% of hospitalized patients in developed nations are affected with nosocomial infections (NCIs), the
rates are even higher among intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Robust evidence suggests that proper hand hygiene has an
essential role in the prevention of NCIs. However, in despite of the overwhelming evidence, hand hygiene compliance among
health care providers (HCPs) was lower than expected. This study was performed to evaluate the impacts of the Hand Hygiene
Initiative (HHI) on compliance of hand hygiene and the rate ofN CI in a single center surgical ICU.
Methods
All HCPs (physicians, nurses, radiographers and physical therapists) who had accessed the Jeju National University
Hospital (JNUH) Surgical ICU were the subjects of this study. The HHI composed of five activities: lectures, monitoring of hand
hygiene compliance, complement facilities, encouraging handrubs use and abiding by the rules concerning isolated patients.
Surveillances of NCI rates and hand hygiene compliances before and during the activities were monitored by the "Infection
Control Committee of JNUH".
Results
Hand hygiene compliance improved from 74.0% before the activities to 89.4% during the activities (p<0.0001).Overall
infection rate ofJ NUH-SICU decreased from 5.98 to 3.98 per 1,00 patient-days which was not statistically significant (p=0.38).
Conclusions
Hand hygiene compliance was improved by HHI, but further efforts will be needed to maintain this impact. HHI
diminished the NCI rate in a single institute surgical ICU, but following studies will be needed to assess whether the
improvement was statistically significant. |
| Key Words:
hand hygiene initiative, nosocomial infection, surgical intensvie care unit |
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