Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STD & AIDS
Volume 19, Issue 11, Pages 782-783Publisher
SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD
DOI: 10.1258/ijsa.2008.008183
Keywords
compliance; hand hygiene; genitourinary medicine
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The ability to control hospital-acquired infections is highly dependent upon control of cross-contamination from health-care workers to patients, and from one anatomical area of the patient to another anatomical area. Hand hygiene has been demonstrated to be an essential prerequisite in preventing cross-contamination. Wearing gloves does not afford complete protection against cross-contamination. Hand hygiene includes handwashing between patients, the use of alcohol-based skin cleansers and changing or removing gloves between examining different anatomical sites. There are no previously published audits regarding compliance to hand hygiene in genitourinary (GU) medicine clinics. A validated observation tool was employed in this audit. Doctors and nurses were observed in clinical practice. The adherence to hand hygiene protocols was overall poor. Doctors were more likely to adhere to protocols than nurses (83.3% vs. 66%). However, techniques of glove removal were universally satisfactory. Strategies for improvement in hand hygiene are suggested. These include performance feedback and use of posters.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available