Hand hygiene is one of the most important measures to prevent healthcare associated infections. A hand hygiene technique consisting of three steps may be superior to the 6-step technique outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO) in terms of compliance with both indications and technique. Therefore, the aim of this study is to compare compliance with hand hygiene indications and technique between a 3-step and the 6-step technique for applying hand rub in an international multicenter cluster randomized trial.
Hand hygiene is one of the most important measures to prevent transmission of pathogens between healthcare workers and patients, and ultimately, healthcare-associated infections. However, compliance with both hand hygiene indications and technique (outlining the steps for applying hand rub to ensure coverage of all surfaces of the hands) remains insufficient at most institutions worldwide. It was previously demonstrated that a hand hygiene technique consisting of three steps is superior to the 6-step technique outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO) in terms of compliance with both indications and technique in a single center study. Furthermore, the 3-step technique was non-inferior regarding microbiological efficacy in two experimental studies and during daily clinical practice. To further investigate the external validity and generalizability of these findings to different settings, this study compares both compliance with hand hygiene indications and technique between the 3-step and the 6-step technique for applying hand rub in an international multicenter cluster randomized trial.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
40
3-step hand hygiene technique: 1. Covering all surfaces of the hands (based on own judgement) 2. Rotational rubbing of fingertips in the palm of the alternate hand 3. Rotational rubbing of both thumbs
6-step hand hygiene technique (according to the WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care, First Global Patient Safety Challenge): 1. Rubbing hands palm to palm 2. Palm to palm with fingers interlaced 3. Right palm over left dorsum with interlaced fingers and vice versa 4. Back of fingers to opposing palms with fingers interlocked 5. Rotational rubbing of left thumb clasped in right palm and vice versa 6. Rotational rubbing backwards and forwards with clasped fingers of right hand in left palm and vice versa
Compliance with hand hygiene indications
Compliance with the five hand hygiene indications defined by the WHO: * before touching a patient * before clean/aseptic procedures * after body fluid exposure risk * after touching a patient * after touching patient surroundings
Time frame: Up to one year
Compliance with the assigned hand hygiene technique
Compliance with the assigned technique, defined as performance of the proposed three steps in the intervention group and of all six steps in the control group.
Time frame: Up to one year
Compliance with performance of the two steps for applying hand rub to the thumbs and the fingertips
Compliance with performance of the two steps for applying hand rub to the thumbs and the fingertips, which are part of both the 3-step and the 6-step technique for applying hand rub.
Time frame: Up to one year
Duration of the hand hygiene action
Duration of the hand hygiene action, the time spent for the application of hand rub will be measured and compared between the two assignments.
Time frame: Up to one year
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.