[Hand hygiene: experience in two Spanish autonomous regions]

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infection Control
• Healthcare Management

Context:

• The Spanish Ministry of Health, aligned with World Health Organization guidelines, initiated a program to enhance hand hygiene compliance among healthcare workers.
• The study focused on two distinct healthcare regions: Cantabria and Murcia.

Purpose:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a multimodal improvement program designed to increase hand washing adherence among healthcare professionals.
• To reinforce the commitment of healthcare workers to rigorous hand hygiene practices in hospital settings.

Summary:

• A three-phase project involved an initial observational study and self-perceived compliance assessment, followed by the implementation of a training plan and promotion of alcohol-based hand rubs.
• A post-intervention observational study reassessed compliance, revealing significant increases in hand washing frequency in both participating communities.

Impact:

• The intervention led to a statistically significant rise in hand washing adherence, with notable improvements observed in both Cantabria and Murcia.
• Findings underscore the importance of continued emphasis on hand hygiene recommendations, development of novel interventions, and improved access to alcohol-based solutions to further boost compliance.