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Health care workers potentially uninformed about infection risks
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Health care workers may be unaware of the infection risk inherent in direct contact with various surfaces, according to a study conducted by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology recently published in the American Journal of Infection Control.
Ann McLaughlin, MD, PhD, conducted the study involving 71 nurses, infection preventionists and hospital environmental services managers who participated in a national survey measuring hand hygiene knowledge and beliefs.
In the survey, each participant “assessed real-life simulations designed to test their perceived risk of infection,” according to a release. Their perceived risk of infection encompassed their level of hygiene knowledge and internal health locus of control, “a measurement of how much influence they perceive themselves as having over controlling the spread of infection.”
Most of the health care workers (HCWs) in the study thought surfaces were safer than skin, even though researchers have proven that touching one contaminated surface — called a fomite — can spread germs to up to seven other surfaces.
“Despite the dangers that fomites present, this knowledge may not be common enough among HCWs for them to understand the level of risk when touching surfaces and then touching patients,” the authors wrote.
In the study abstract, the authors suggest using the findings to “create targeted interventions and products to improve hand hygiene.”
Reference:
- McLaughlin AC, Walsh F. Individual differences in judgments of hand hygiene risk by health care workers. Am J Infect Control. 2011. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2010.08.016
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