Abstract
AIM: We piloted a hand hygiene (HH) project in a ward, focusing on World Health Organization moments 1 and 4. Our aim was to design highly reliable interventions to achieve >90% compliance.
METHODS: Baseline HH compliance was 57 and 67% for moments 1, 4, respectively, in 2015. After the pilot ward showed sustained improvement, we launched the 'HH bundle' throughout the hospital. This included: (i) appointment of HH champions; (ii) verbal/visual bedside reminders; (iii) patient empowerment; (iv) hand moisturisers; (v) tagging near-empty handrub (HR) bottles. Other hospital-wide initiatives included: (vi) Smartphone application for auditing; (vii) 'Speak up for Patient Safety' Campaign in 2017 for staff empowerment; (viii) making HH a key performance indicator.
RESULTS: Overall HH compliance increased from a baseline median of 79.6-92.6% in end-2019. Moments 1 and 4 improved from 71 to 92.7% and from 77.6 to 93.2%, respectively. Combined HR and hand wash consumption increased from a baseline median of 82.6 ml/patient day (PD) to 109.2 mL/PD. Health-care-associated rotavirus infections decreased from a baseline median of 4.5 per 10 000 PDs to 1.5 per 10 000 PDs over time.
CONCLUSIONS: The 'HH Bundle' of appointing HH champions, active reminders and feedback, patient education and empowerment, availability of hand moisturisers, tagging near-empty hand rub bottles together with hospital-wide initiatives including financial incentives and the 'Speak Up for Patient Safety' campaign successfully improved the overall HH compliance to >90%. These interventions were highly reliable, sustained over 4 years and also reduced health-care-associated rotavirus infection rates.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1460-1466 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health |
Volume | 57 |
Issue number | 9 |
Early online date | 28 Apr 2021 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sept 2021 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:We would like to thank all the nursing and physician champions, environmental services, allied health service, catering, infection control nurses and all who made this project possible.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Paediatrics and Child Health Division (The Royal Australasian College of Physicians).