Newswise -- Nurses are more conscientious handwashers than doctors, finds a study in the Dec. 24, 2003 issue of British Medical Journal (BMJ). Handwashing is considered by experts to be a quick, cheap and easy way of preventing the spread of infection.
Identical soap dispensers were installed next to the sinks in the consulting room of each member of a primary care surgery in Cardiff (two nurses and three doctors).
The soap dispensers were all filled to the same level on the same day at the start of the study. Over one year, the amount of soap used and the number of consultations for each member of the team were recorded to calculate the ratio of handwashes to patients seen.
Nursing staff showed greater attention to personal hygiene than doctors. The best performing nurse washed her hands at least twice as often (or twice as thoroughly) as the best performing doctor.
These results will not necessarily reflect handwashing practices in all teams but form a basis on which others may conduct similar audits, suggests the author.
To see the full paper, go to http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/327/7429/1453
Source: British Medical Journal
An Infection Preventionist Considers Why Manufacturers Need to Update IFUs
July 11th 2024Katharine J. Hoffman, MPH, CIC, LSSGB: It’s time to take the devil out of the details in interpreting and successfully following manufacturers' instructions for use; why do manufacturers need to update IFUs?
The 90’s Club: A Successful Hand Hygiene Adherence Campaign
July 9th 2024The "90’s SwipeSense Club" significantly improved hand hygiene adherence at Novant Health Thomasville Medical Center. By incentivizing adherence through 1990s-themed rewards and using SwipeSense technology to track hygiene practices, the hospital increased adherence rates from 53% in 2021 to 84% by May 2024.
Hand Hygiene Adherence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Safety Is Universal
July 1st 2024Hebah al Zamel, MSN, CIC, CPHQ, an infection preventionist in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a member of ICT's Editorial Advisory Board, describes how hand hygiene is handled in Prince Sultan Cardiac Center in Qasim.
Streamlining Hospital Communication: Reducing Noise and Improving Patient Care
June 27th 2024TigerConnect's secure text-based platform, led by Will O'Connor, MD, reduces noise, minimizes wait times, and improves patient care through efficient clinical workflow coordination and nurse burnout alleviation.