Current issues in hand hygiene

Achieving optimum levels of hand hygiene adherence among health care personnel (HCP) remains a challenge in many health care facilities. The purpose of this article is to review recent guidelines and new findings of potential importance, and suggest strategies for continued improvement of hand hygiene practices among HCP.

A search included articles that addressed important issues related to HCP hand hygiene.

The 2022 SHEA/IDSA/APIC Practice Recommendations on hand hygiene provide an extensive list of evidence-based recommendations for improving hand hygiene practices among HCP. The accuracy of direct covert observations can be improved by having "secret shoppers" limit observation sessions to 15-20 minutes and by randomly selecting units to observe. A standard method is needed for determining an adequate sample size of direct covert observations in facilities with varying levels of baseline adherence. Combining direct covert observations with automated hand hygiene monitoring will likely provide the most robust data on hand hygiene practices of HCP. Greater attention should be devoted to improving hand hygiene technique.

Continuing efforts are needed to maximize hand hygiene practices among HCP.