Access to hand hygiene in eastern Ontario.

Area of Science:

• Infection Control
• Healthcare Management
• Public Health

Background:

• Alcohol-based hand products (ABHP) are proven to improve hand hygiene compliance.
• Easy access to ABHP at the point-of-care (POC) is essential for effective infection control.
• Current infrastructure for POC ABHP access in healthcare facilities is not well-documented.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the availability of POC ABHP access in healthcare facilities within the Champlain Infection Control Network (CICN).
• To determine the proportion of facilities providing ABHP at the POC.
• To identify the placement of ABHP dispensers in relation to POC, hallways, and other areas.

Main Methods:

• A survey was conducted in October 2007 targeting all healthcare facilities in the CICN.
• Facilities completed a one-page questionnaire on ABHP dispenser location and quantity on a single ward.
• Primary outcomes included the percentage of facilities with POC ABHP access and dispenser distribution.

Main Results:

• Survey participation: 31% of long-term care facilities (LTCF) and 78% of acute-care facilities (ACF).
• POC ABHP access was available in 44% of LTCF, 50% of ACF, and 71% of ICUs.
• Only 20% of ABHP dispensers were at the POC in LTCF, compared to 23% in ACF and 42% in ICUs.

Conclusions:

• While ABHP is present, most dispensers are not optimally located at the POC.
• Hospitals and LTCF must increase POC ABHP dispenser availability.
• Strategic placement of ABHP dispensers at the POC is recommended, aligning with provincial guidelines.