Utilizing "persistent" hand sanitizers and surface disinfectants, which continually fight bacteria for long periods of time, could help drive down infection rates, patient length-of-stay and hospital readmissions, according to a Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association news release.
Hospital employees at four Virginia hospitals were instructed to apply persistent hand-sanitizing lotion at the start of their workday and reapply every four hours. They were told to continue washing their hands or using an alcohol sanitizer as recommended in CDC Hand Hygiene Guidelines. Environmental service employees were also instructed to apply the surface disinfectant to "touch points" only. Rooms were disinfected after patient discharges, and common hospital areas were treated monthly.
After the three-month trial period, results showed an average of 41.5 percent fewer infections per 1,000 patient days.
Read the news release about persistent hand hygiene.
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Hospital employees at four Virginia hospitals were instructed to apply persistent hand-sanitizing lotion at the start of their workday and reapply every four hours. They were told to continue washing their hands or using an alcohol sanitizer as recommended in CDC Hand Hygiene Guidelines. Environmental service employees were also instructed to apply the surface disinfectant to "touch points" only. Rooms were disinfected after patient discharges, and common hospital areas were treated monthly.
After the three-month trial period, results showed an average of 41.5 percent fewer infections per 1,000 patient days.
Read the news release about persistent hand hygiene.
Related Articles on Hand Hygiene:
Glowing Gel Showing Germs Boosts Hand Hygiene Among Children
Poster, Easily Accessible Hand Sanitizers May Improve Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Facility Cafeterias
Global WHO Campaign Focuses on Hand Hygiene