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Updated: Mar 29, 2026

A Method to Test the Efficacy of Handwashing for the Removal of Emerging Infectious Pathogens
Published on: June 7, 2017
New technology markedly improves hand-hygiene performance among healthcare workers after restroom visits
H Møller-Sørensen1, A Korshin1, T Mogensen2
1Department of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark.
Abstract:
The risks to patients from pathogens present on healthcare workers' (HCWs') hands are high; however, compliance with hand hygiene among HCWs is low. We devised a prospective intervention trial of a new hand-hygiene dispensing technology to improve HCWs' compliance with hand hygiene. Baseline hand-hygiene compliance was observed for three months before and after an intervention consisting of implementation of an electronic device that reminds people to comply with hand hygiene after restroom visits. Compliance in hand-hygiene performance after restroom visits increased among HCWs from 66% to 91% after the intervention.
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