Journal
JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL INFECTION
Volume 59, Issue 3, Pages 229-234Publisher
W B SAUNDERS CO LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2004.10.003
Keywords
alcohol-based hand disinfection; handwashing; compliance with hand hygiene; intensive care unit; glove juice; antimicrobial effect
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This study involved observation of hand-hygiene behaviour and evaluation of the effect of alcohol-based hand disinfection and handwashing with plain liquid soap on microbial flora. The study was performed in a combined medical and surgical intensive care unit. We demonstrated a crude compliance of hand hygiene of 50.4%, which was only performed adequately in 20.8% of cases. Of this group, handwashing and hand-disinfection procedures were performed property 34.0% and 71.6% of the time, respectively. Hand samples for bacteriological examinations with the glove juice method demonstrated that whilst handwashing was sensitive to the way in which hand hygiene was performed, alcohol-based hand disinfection was Less sensitive to such performance. Our study demonstrated that alcohol-based hand disinfection is a robust hand-hygiene method with many advantages in a practical setting. It is very feasible for use in hospital wards. (C) 2004 The Hospital Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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