Background: Electronic monitoring systems (EMS) for measuring hand hygiene performance have many advantages. Previous studies have shared results of EMS in individual units or single institutions, without many details of implementation. The implementation steps for house wide use of an EMS in 12 hospitals are described.
Methods: Hospital resources used in this 3-year implementation included those for installation activities, initial education about the components and function of the EMS, evaluation of healthcare professionals' processes related to hand hygiene, routine data feedback in a variety of methods, continuous coaching and training on the EMS, incentive programs and strong leadership support.
Results: Continual process improvement activities resulted in a 23% increase in hand hygiene performance, from 53% at baseline, to 76%.
Discussion/conclusion: Implementation of an EMS required many resources beyond those for the technology, but resulted in measurable improvement in hand hygiene performance.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2022.12.008 | DOI Listing |
Int J Hyg Environ Health
January 2025
Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address:
Whilst improving hygiene and sanitation behaviours is key to cost-effective and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene interventions, measuring behaviour change remains a challenge. This study assessed the validity and reliability of pictorial 24-h recall (P24 hR), a novel method using unprompted recall of past activities through pictures, compared to structured observation for measuring handwashing with soap (HWWS) and safe child faeces disposal in rural Malawi. Data were collected from 88 individuals across 74 households in Chiradzulu district using both methods over a two-day period, with the recall period of the P24 hR corresponding to the period of structured observation completed the previous day.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Infection control in intensive care units (ICUs) is crucial due to the high risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), which can increase patient morbidity, mortality, and costs. Effective measures such as hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), patient isolation, and environmental cleaning are vital to minimize these risks. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) offers new opportunities to enhance infection control, from predicting outbreaks to optimizing antimicrobial use, ultimately improving patient safety and care in ICUs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Appl Microbiol
January 2025
Centre for Sustainable Disinfection and Sterilization, Technological University of the Shannon, Athlone Campus, N37 HD68, Ireland.
This is a timely and important review that focuses on the appropriateness of established cleaning, disinfection and sterilization methods to safely and effectively address infectious fungal drug-resistant pathogens that can potentially contaminate reusable medical devices used in healthcare environment in order to mitigate the risk of patient infection. The release of the World Health Organisation (WHO) fungal priority pathogen list (FPPL) in 2022 highlighted the public health crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in clinically relevant fungal species. Contamination of medical devices with drug-resistant fungal pathogens (including those on the FPPL) in healthcare are rare events that are more likely to occur due to cross-transmission arising from lapses in hand-hygiene practices.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFViruses
December 2024
Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Collegium Medicum, Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 87-100 Torun, Poland.
Objectives Of The Study: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the epidemiology and clinical course of chickenpox in children based on 6 years of self-reported observations.
Material And Methods: The medical records of 350 patients under 18 years of age hospitalised in the Department of Paediatrics, Infectious Diseases, and Hepatology between 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2023 were analysed retrospectively.
Results: During the analysed period, 350 children were hospitalised due to chickenpox, the fewest in the pandemic period, the greatest number in 2023.
J Clin Med
December 2024
Pediatric Clinic, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Gramsci, 14, 43125 Parma, Italy.
The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the importance of preparedness in preventing the spread of infectious diseases, especially in Emergency Departments (EDs), where initial patient assessments and triage occur. This study aims to evaluate the current practices and available tools for infection control in Pediatric EDs across Italy, focusing on the differences between various hospital types and regional settings. A cross-sectional national survey was conducted in February 2022, targeting healthcare workers in Pediatric EDs across Italy.
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