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| Research article summary (published 3 Dec 2008): |
A simple effective clean practice protocol significantly improves hand decontamination and infection control measures in the acute surgical setting.
Full Abstract
BACKGROUND: The Hand Hygiene Liaison Group and Epic Projects (Pratt et al., J Hosp Infect 47[Suppl A], 2001) have asked specifically for further trials of educational interventions to improve hand decontamination compliance and infection control in the hospital setting. This study investigates the efficacy of a 'clean practice protocol' (CPP), derived from international guidelines, to improve compliance of infection-control practices by surgical teams in a large UK teaching hospital. METHODS: The key infection-control activities were summated to form the CPP presented here. An undisclosed infection-control audit of consultant-led ward-rounds from breast, gastrointestinal, vascular, urological, and intensive care departments was performed. The audit results were presented to the surgical teams, after which an education/awareness program was implemented. A repeat undisclosed audit was performed 3 months later. In both audits, infection-control activities were recorded together with consultation time and any patient infective complications. RESULTS: The surgical teams performed as follows in the initial audit: hand decontamination (28% of consultations), correct use of gloves (2%), instrument cleaning (0%), garment contamination (49%), and notes contamination (34%). Introduction of the CPP education program significantly improved hand decontamination to 87% (p < 0.0001), the correct use of gloves/aprons to 50% (p < 0.0001), and overall infection-control practice from 63% to 89% (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of the CPP significantly improved compliance of hand decontamination, correct usage of gloves and aprons, and overall infection-control in a large teaching hospital. The CPP is a highly effective auditing and educational tool that can be readily adapted for use in hospitals globally to monitor and improve infection-control practices.
Author information
Author/s: Howard, D P J (DP); Williams, C (C); Sen, S (S); Shah, A (A); Daurka, J (J); Bird, R (R); Loh, A (A); Howard, A (A);
Affiliation: Department of Surgery, Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Trust, Oxford, UK. pj(-atsign-)doctors.net.uk
Journal and publication information
Publication Type: Journal Article
Journal: Infection (Infection), published in Germany. (Language: eng)
Reference: 2009-Feb; vol 37 (issue 1) : pp 34-8
Dates: Created 2009/03/13; Completed 2009/04/24;
PMID: 19139812, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 4/24/2009, IMS Date: )
Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.
Comments and Corrections
CommentIn: Infection. 2009 Feb;37(1):1. (PMID: 19169629)
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