Hand Hygiene Compliance Remains Unchanged Post-Pandemic in Slovakia

Strategic Insights -

A new study by researchers from University Hospital Trnava in Slovakia has found that hand hygiene (HH) compliance among healthcare professionals (HCPs) remained nearly unchanged at 50.8% in the post-pandemic period (2022-2023) compared to the pre-pandemic period (2018-2019), where it was 50.2%. The study, published in the journal Infection Prevention In Practice, used digital direct-observation tools to monitor HH compliance and alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) consumption among HCPs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key Takeaways:

  • Hand hygiene compliance among HCPs in Slovakia remained nearly unchanged at 50.8% in the post-pandemic period (2022-2023) compared to the pre-pandemic period (2018-2019) at 50.2%.
  • Nurses demonstrated the highest compliance rate during the pre-pandemic period, with an overall HH compliance of 50.2% (95% CI, 48.7-51.8).
  • ABHR consumption increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, peaking at 48.4 litres/1000 patient days (PD), but declined to 31.5 litres/1000 PD by 2023.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic positively influenced ABHR consumption and raised awareness of the importance of hand hygiene in clinical practice.
  • Direct observation supported by a digital application proved to be an effective method for collecting HH compliance data.
  • The study included 14,416 observations of HH compliance, with 71% of these observations being conducted during the post-pandemic period.
  • The study's findings suggest that while the COVID-19 pandemic raised awareness of hand hygiene, it did not lead to a significant improvement in compliance.

Statistics:

  • 50.8% HH compliance in the post-pandemic period (2022-2023)
  • 50.2% HH compliance in the pre-pandemic period (2018-2019)
  • 48.4 litres/1000 patient days (PD) ABHR consumption during the pandemic (peak)
  • 31.5 litres/1000 PD ABHR consumption by 2023
  • 14,416 observations of HH compliance were conducted during the study
  • 71% of observations were conducted during the post-pandemic period

Sources:

  • Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on alcohol-based hand rub consumption and hand hygiene compliance: a cross-sectional study using digital direct-observation tools in Slovakia. Infection Prevention In Practice, 2025;7(4):100481.
  • NewsRx. Study Findings from University Hospital Broaden Understanding of COVID-19 (Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on alcohol-based hand rub consumption and hand hygiene compliance: a cross-sectional study using digital direct-observation tools in ...). Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA. September 28, 2025; p 209.