BOYCE JM; Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (41st : 2001 : Chicago, Ill.).
Abstr Intersci Conf Antimicrob Agents Chemother Intersci Conf Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2001 Dec 16-19; 41: abstract no. 1330.
Hosp. of Saint Raphael, New Haven, CT
Compliance of healthcare workers with recommended handwashing practices has been unacceptably low for many years. Factors adversely affecting compliance include poor access to handwashing facilities, the time required for handwashing, irritant contact dermatitis due to frequent exposure to soap and water, high workloads among personnel, and failure of administrators to make hand hygiene a priority. Alcohol-based hand rubs can be made more accessible, require less time to use, cause less dermatitis and are more effective than washing hands with soap and water. Promoting routine use of alcohol-based waterless antiseptics in healthcare facilities, combined with strong administrative support, innovative educational and motivational programs, and giving personnel feedback regarding their performance can improve hand hygiene compliance and reduce nosocomial infections.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Alcohols
- Anti-Infective Agents, Local
- Cross Infection
- Ethanol
- Federal Government
- Guidelines as Topic
- Hand
- Handwashing
- Health Personnel
- Hygiene
- Soaps
- standards
Other ID:
UI: 102269219
From Meeting Abstracts