Effectiveness of the CareCentre(®) at improving contact precautions: randomized simulation and clinical evaluations

Bedside hygiene is important to reduce healthcare-associated infection rates. The CareCentre(®) is an end-of-hospital-bed table, housing: alcohol-based hand rub, gloves, aprons, waste bin, and an ergonomic writing surface.

To determine the effectiveness of the CareCentre at improving bedside hygiene.

In the randomized cross-over simulation evaluation, 20 participants used the CareCentre and standard conditions to perform common bedside tasks. In the randomized cross-over clinical evaluation, nine pairs of acute adult hospital ward bays received CareCentres and standard conditions for one week each. Researchers measured adherence to the World Health Organization's 'my five moments for hand hygiene' and donning and disposing of gloves and aprons at the bedside.

Adherence to hand hygiene guidelines improved from 48% to 67% (P = 0.04) in the simulation and from 14% to 40% (P < 0.001) in the clinical evaluation. Donning and disposing of gloves at the bedside improved from 19% to 79% (P < 0.001) in the simulation and from 30% to 65% (P = 0.014) in the clinical evaluation. Donning and disposing of aprons at the bedside improved from 14% to 78% (P < 0.001) in the simulation and from 10% to 53% (P = 0.180) in the clinical evaluation.

The CareCentre improved bedside hygiene and might help reduce healthcare-associated infection rates as part of a multimodal strategy.