Compliance of hand hygiene in maintaining the catheter for hemodialysis

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Infection Control
• Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

• Maintaining temporary double-lumen catheters for hemodialysis requires strict adherence to protocols to prevent complications.
• Hand hygiene is a cornerstone of infection prevention in healthcare settings, particularly for invasive devices like hemodialysis catheters.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the compliance rate of hand hygiene practices during the maintenance of temporary double-lumen catheters for hemodialysis.
• To identify specific areas of non-compliance in catheter maintenance procedures at the University Hospital of the University of São Paulo.

Main Methods:

• A quantitative, exploratory, descriptive, observational study was conducted.
• 155 observations of patients with temporary double-lumen catheters were performed between March and November 2011.
• The 'Maintenance Indicator Temporary Dual Lumen Catheter for Hemodialysis' tool was utilized for data collection.

Main Results:

• The overall compliance rate for temporary double-lumen catheter maintenance was 65.8%.
• While 9 out of 13 specific components (69.2%) achieved 100% compliance, hand hygiene by healthcare professionals showed a lower compliance rate of 83.9%.
• This indicates a significant area for improvement in infection control practices.

Conclusions:

• Strategies are needed to enhance compliance rates, thereby improving the quality of care and patient safety for individuals with hemodialysis catheters.
• Further investigation into factors influencing non-compliance, including structural and behavioral elements, is recommended.
• Targeted interventions focusing on hand hygiene are essential to reduce catheter-related infections and complications.