Healthcare Hygiene magazine December 2019 | Page 25

When considering the addition of patient hand hygiene to infection prevention bundles, much can
be learned from hospitals which have already done so.
support reduction of HAI risk. When considering the addition
of patient hand hygiene to infection prevention bundles,
much can be learned from hospitals which have already
done so. Following are suggestions for success offered
by hospitals which have formally addressed patient hand
hygiene compliance: 7-8
• Ensure hand hygiene product(s) are readily available to
patients and family/visitors at bedside.
• Assist/remind patients to perform hand hygiene at the
following times: before breakfast, lunch, dinner; three times
a day if not eating meals.
• Provide hand hygiene education to patient and family
in various formats – e.g., written, verbal, and simulation.
• For patients incapable of cleaning their own hands,
consider cleaning patient hands with CHG impregnated
cloths three times a day (once a shift).
Sue Barnes, RN, CIC, FAPIC is an independent clinical
consultant, board-certified in infection control and preven-
tion, a fellow of APIC (FAPIC) and co-founder of the National
Corporate IP Director Network. She currently provides
marketing and clinical consultation to select industry partners
who seek to support infection prevention with innovative
products. Her website is: www.zeroinfections.org
References:
1. https://www.cdc.gov/hai/data/portal/progress-report.html
2. Landers T, et al. Patient-centered hand hygiene: The next step in
infection prevention. American Journal of Infection Control, May 2012 v.
40, Issue 4, Pages s111-s17.
3. Srigley JA, Furness CD, Gardam M. Measurement of patient hand
hygiene in multiorgan transplant units using a novel technology: an obser-
vational study. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2014 Nov;35(11):1336-41.
4. Burke KE, Lamont JT. Clostridium difficile infection: a worldwide
disease. Gut Liver. 2014;8(1):1–6.
5. Haverstick S, et al. Patients’ Handwashing and Reducing Hospital-
Acquired Infection. Critical Care Nurse Vol 37, No. 3. June 2017.
6. Pyrek K. Mobile Technology Disinfection: Contaminated Devices Pose
Threat to Patient. Infection Control Today. Feb. 17, 2017.
7. Wallace N. Patient Hand Hygiene: The Missing Link in Preventing
Hospital Acquired Infections? Infection Control Tips. Dec. 9, 2015.
8. Fox C. Use of a patient hand hygiene protocol to reduce hospital-ac-
quired infections and improve nurse hand washing. Am J Crit Care. Vol. 24,
No. 3. May 2015.
Annual Meeting • March 3-4, 2020
Houston, TX • The Cooley Center @ UTHealth
We are excited to announce that
our 2020 Annual Meeting will be
co-hosted by the University of
Texas School of Public Health’s
Southwest Center for Occupational
and Environmental Health
(SWCOEH), which sits amidst the
Texas Medical Center—the largest
in the world with 54 institutions in
2.1 square miles!
The Healthcare Surfaces Institute Annual
Meeting includes:
Details on our new Certification &
Standards program
Continuing education credits (CEU,
CNE, CME) for healthcare professionals
Lectures and panel discussions
Group discussion with healthcare
stakeholders to support and build on
the institute’s work.
REGISTRATION OPENS SOON!
healthcaresurfacesinstitute.org
www.healthcarehygienemagazine.com • december 2019
25