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ED layout associated with poor hand hygiene compliance among HCWs
Venkatesh AK. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2011 [published online ahead of print Oct. 3].
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Besides traditional predictors of poor hand hygiene, researchers led by Jeremiah D. Schuur, MD, MHS, identified ED layout characteristics — particularly hallway bed location — as the strongest predictor for poor hand hygiene compliance among health care workers.
In the observational study, Schuur,of the department of emergency medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and colleagues aimed to identify predictors of hand hygiene practices in an urban, academic ED.
Between January 2009 and April 2010, hand hygiene compliance audits were conducted that looked at the use of alcohol hand rub or standard hand washing among health care workers (HCWs) before and after contact with each patient or patient environment.
Overall compliance was 89.7% (95% CI, 88.9-90.5) of more than 5,865 observed hand hygiene opportunities.
Results from multivariate analysis indicated that patient location in a hallway bed was the strongest predictor for poor hand hygiene compliance (RR= 88.9%; 95% CI, 85.9-92.1). Independent predictors for low hand hygiene compliance included: glove use, HCW type, high room visibility and patient location in the lower-acuity observation unit.
“With nearly one in five US residents visiting an ED every year, and EDs serving as a frequent interface between the public and patients with communicable diseases, we have to build systems that ensure the highest standards of hand washing and infection control to ensure the safest care for all patients,” Schuur told Infectious Disease News. – by Ashley DeNyse
Disclosure: This study was funded by the department of emergency medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
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