Hand hygiene and glove use in nursing homes before and after an intervention

We investigated whether an intervention to improve hand hygiene compliance in nursing homes changed glove use. Hand hygiene compliance increased, but substitution of hand hygiene with gloves did not decrease. We observed a reduction of inappropriately unchanged gloves after exposure to body fluids. Clinical trials identifier: Netherlands Trial Register, trial NL6049 (NTR6188): https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/6049.

Automated summary

The intervention to improve hand hygiene compliance in nursing homes led to an increase in overall hand hygiene compliance, but did not decrease the usage of gloves as a substitute. However, a reduction in the inappropriate unchanged gloves after exposure to body fluids was observed.