CHANGES IN PRE-AND POST-INTERVENTION HAND HYGIENE COMPLIANCE IN ICU ON WHO HANDWASHING POSTERS

Area of Science:

• Infection Control
• Public Health
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a leading cause of death in the EU.
• Hand hygiene (HH) is crucial for preventing HAIs, yet compliance remains below 50%.
• World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines recommend interventions like poster reminders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of standardized WHO HH poster reminders on healthcare worker compliance.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of posters emphasizing personal responsibility and patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• An observational study was conducted in a surgical intensive care unit over one month.
• Hand hygiene compliance was measured via direct observation using the WHO tool.
• An intervention involved replacing standard posters with those highlighting personal responsibility on day 15.

Main Results:

• Overall HH compliance increased from 15.4% pre-intervention to 28.3% post-intervention (p<0.001).
• Compliance after exposure to body fluids significantly improved from 35.1% to 58.7%.
• Soap and water was the preferred HH method; gloves were used in 98% of aseptic procedures where HH was omitted.

Conclusions:

• Standardized posters with messages on consequences and personal responsibility can enhance HH compliance.
• This intervention should be considered as part of multimodal strategies to reduce HAIs.
• Improved HH compliance contributes to better patient outcomes and safety.