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Infection control. Unhappy nappy-changing.
1Faculty of Health, South Bank University.
Nursing Times
|September 13, 2000
Summary
Nurses in special care baby units (SCBUs) showed varying adherence to infection control policies. While alcohol proved more effective than soap for hand decontamination, wearing gloves offered the best protection against bacterial acquisition for infants and staff.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare-associated infections
- Infection control in neonatal care
Background:
- Neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and special care baby units (SCBUs) are high-risk environments for infections.
- Hand hygiene and appropriate personal protective equipment are critical for preventing pathogen transmission.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess nurses' adherence to infection control policies during nappy-changing in an SCBU.
- To evaluate the efficacy of different hand decontamination agents (alcohol vs. soap).
- To determine the effectiveness of glove-wearing in preventing bacterial acquisition.
Main Methods:
- Observational study within a special care baby unit.
- Monitoring of hand decontamination practices and glove use during nappy-changing.
- Microbiological assessment of hand decontamination efficacy.
Main Results:
- Inconsistent adherence to established infection control policies by nursing staff was observed.
- Alcohol-based hand rubs demonstrated superior bacterial removal compared to soap.
- Glove use was highly effective in preventing bacterial transfer to both nurses and neonates.
Conclusions:
- Enhanced adherence to infection control protocols, including consistent glove use, is crucial in SCBUs.
- Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are recommended for routine hand decontamination.
- Gloves provide the most robust barrier against bacterial contamination during nappy-changing.