A multimodal intervention to improve hand hygiene compliance in peripheral wards of a tertiary care university centre: a cluster randomised controlled trial.

Background: Interventions to improve hand hygiene (HH) compliance are a key element in the practice infection prevention and control. It was our objective to assess the effect of a multimodal intervention on HH compliance at a tertiary care university hospital. As a secondary objective, we investigated the effect of the intervention on the occurrence of device-associated bloodstream infections.

A quasi-randomized controlled before-after study using performance feedback and goal setting as elements of hand hygiene promotion.

Background: Hand hygiene (HH) plays an important role in infection prevention but is often suboptimal.

Aim: To test the potential of goal setting and performance feedback in improving HH.

Methods: A prospective controlled intervention study was conducted at a German hospital.

Systemic mistakes in hand hygiene practice in Ukraine: detection, consequences and ways of elimination.

Aim: Every year, millions of people around the world suffer from different infectious diseases, considerable part of which are hospital-acquired infections. WHO considers hand hygiene as a priority measure aimed to reduce the level of infection. We evaluated various aspects related to the situational behavior and prioritization regarding hand hygiene measures among the healthcare workers of Ukraine.

Is peracetic acid suitable for the cleaning step of reprocessing flexible endoscopes?

The bioburden (blood, protein, pathogens and biofilm) on flexible endoscopes after use is often high and its removal is essential to allow effective disinfection, especially in the case of peracetic acid-based disinfectants, which are easily inactivated by organic material. Cleaning processes using conventional cleaners remove a variable but often sufficient amount of the bioburden. Some formulations based on peracetic acid are recommended by manufacturers for the cleaning step.

Efficacy of surface disinfectant cleaners against emerging highly resistant gram-negative bacteria.

Background: Worldwide, the emergence of multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria is a clinical problem. Surface disinfectant cleaners (SDCs) that are effective against these bacteria are needed for use in high risk areas around patients and on multi-touch surfaces. We determined the efficacy of several SDCs against clinically relevant bacterial species with and without common types of multidrug resistance.

Small volumes of n-propanol (60%) applied for 3 minutes may be ineffective for surgical hand disinfection.

Background: There is a trend in some countries to recommend the use of surgical hand disinfectants at volumes as low as 4 ml per application.

Aim: To determine whether the volume applied and hand size influence the efficacy of surgical hand disinfection.

Methods: Thirteen experiments, according to EN 12791, resulting in 269 datasets from 75 subjects were analyzed.

Efficacy of two iso-propanol-based skin antiseptics applied to human skin with many sebaceous glands for 2 and 10 minutes.

Background: Recent research suggests that specific ethanol-based skin antiseptics exhibit their efficacy on the resident skin flora of the forehead in only 2.5 minutes. We have now looked at the efficacy of two skin antiseptics based on 63% (w/w) propan-2-ol (iso-propanol) and applied for 10 and 2 minutes on skin with a high density of sebaceous glands.

Effective reprocessing of reusable dispensers for surface disinfection tissues - the devil is in the details.

Background: It has recently been reported that reusable dispensers for surface disinfection tissues may be contaminated, especially with adapted Achromobacter species 3, when products based on surface-active ingredients are used. Fresh solution may quickly become recontaminated if dispensers are not processed adequately.

Methods: We evaluated the abilities of six manual and three automatic processes for processing contaminated dispensers to prevent recolonisation of a freshly-prepared disinfectant solution (Mikrobac forte 0.

Poorly processed reusable surface disinfection tissue dispensers may be a source of infection.

Background: Reusable surface disinfectant tissue dispensers are used in hospitals in many countries because they allow immediate access to pre-soaked tissues for targeted surface decontamination. On the other hand disinfectant solutions with some active ingredients may get contaminated and cause outbreaks. We determined the frequency of contaminated surface disinfectant solutions in reusable dispensers and the ability of isolates to multiply in different formulations.

Improving patient safety during insertion of peripheral venous catheters: an observational intervention study.

Background: Peripheral venous catheters are frequently used in hospitalized patients but increase the risk of nosocomial bloodstream infection. Evidence-based guidelines describe specific steps that are known to reduce infection risk. However, the degree of guideline implementation in clinical practice is not known.

Less and less-influence of volume on hand coverage and bactericidal efficacy in hand disinfection.

Background: Some manufacturers recommend using 1.1 mL per application of alcohol-based handrubs for effective hand disinfection. However, whether this volume is sufficient to cover both hands, as recommended by the World Health Organization, and fulfills current efficacy standards is unknown.

Resistance or adaptation? How susceptible is a 'glutaraldehyde-resistant' Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolate in the absence of selection pressure?

The activities of glutaraldehyde solution and an instrument disinfectant based on glutaraldehyde on a Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolate with reduced susceptibility to glutaraldehyde after the first and fifth passages were determined using three concentrations and temperatures. No significant difference was found between the first and fifth passages so phenotypic adaptation is unlikely.

Efficacy of hand rubs with a low alcohol concentration listed as effective by a national hospital hygiene society in Europe.

Background: Some national hospital hygiene societies in Europe such as the French society for hospital hygiene (SFHH) have positive lists of disinfectants. Few hand disinfectants with a rather low concentration of ethanol are listed by one society as effective for hygienic hand disinfection with 3 mL in 30 s including a virucidal activity in 30 s or 60 s, but published data allow having doubts. We have therefore evaluated the efficacy of three commonly used hand disinfectants according to EN 1500 and EN 14476.

Efficacy of surgical hand scrub products based on chlorhexidine is largely overestimated without neutralizing agents in the sampling fluid.

Background: Surgical hand antiseptics often contain chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG). There are doubts that the full effect measured for these products might only be achieved after sampling because of a lack of valid neutralizing agents (NAs) in the sampling fluid.

Methods: We measured the efficacy of Avagard CHG and Hibiclens for 11 applications over 5 days according to the manufacturers' instructions.