Effect of correctly using alcohol-based hand rub in a clinical setting

Area of Science:

• Infection Control
• Healthcare Hygiene
• Clinical Microbiology

Background:

• Hand antisepsis is critical in preventing healthcare-associated infections.
• Compliance with hand hygiene protocols remains a challenge in clinical settings.
• Alcohol-based hand rubs are widely used for hand antisepsis in hospitals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the compliance rate of hand antisepsis using alcohol-based hand rub in a clinical setting.
• To assess the effectiveness of correct versus incorrect use of alcohol-based hand rub on bacterial reduction.
• To understand the impact of hand hygiene practices on microbial load in a hospital environment.

Main Methods:

• Observational study of routine clinical procedures at Aarhus University Hospital.
• Monitoring of hand antisepsis compliance with alcohol-based hand rub.
• Measurement of bacterial counts on hands before and after clinical procedures, comparing correct and incorrect hand rub usage.

Main Results:

• Compliance with correct alcohol-based hand rub use exceeded 55% during observed clinical procedures.
• Correct use of alcohol-based hand rub reduced bacterial counts by 90% before and 82% after procedures.
• Incorrect use of alcohol-based hand rub resulted in lower bacterial reduction: 60% before and 54% after procedures.

Conclusions:

• Compliance with correct alcohol-based hand rub use is achievable in clinical practice.
• Proper hand antisepsis technique significantly enhances bacterial reduction compared to incorrect use.
• Adherence to effective hand hygiene protocols is crucial for reducing microbial contamination in hospitals.