Population-based screening in a municipality after a primary school outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant, the Netherlands, December 2020-February 2021.

An outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant (Pango lineage B.1.1.

Association of environmental surface contamination with hand hygiene and infections in nursing homes: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Little is known about the presence of infections in nursing home residents, the causative micro-organisms, how hand hygiene (HH) influences the presence of infections in residents, and the extent to which environmental contamination is associated with the incidence of infection among residents.

Aims: To establish if environmental contamination can be used as an indicator for HH compliance, and if environmental contamination is associated with the incidence of infection.

Methods: Environmental surface samples (ESS) were collected in an exploratory study as part of a HH intervention in 60 nursing homes.

The effect of a hand hygiene intervention on infections in residents of nursing homes: a cluster randomized controlled trial.

Background: The primary goal of hand hygiene is to reduce infectious disease rates. We examined if a nursing home's participation in a hand hygiene intervention resulted in residents having fewer healthcare associated infections (HAIs) when compared to nursing homes without the hand hygiene intervention.

Methods: This study is a part of a cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) in 33 nursing homes to improve hand hygiene (HANDSOME).

Hand hygiene and glove use in nursing homes before and after an intervention.

We investigated whether an intervention to improve hand hygiene compliance in nursing homes changed glove use. Hand hygiene compliance increased, but substitution of hand hygiene with gloves did not decrease. We observed a reduction of inappropriately unchanged gloves after exposure to body fluids.