Improving Hand Hygiene Adherence in Healthcare Workers to Prevent COVID-19 Spread

Strategic Insights -

A study conducted by researchers from the Department of Nursing, Niigata Saiseikai Daini Hospital, in Niigata, Japan, highlights the importance of hand hygiene adherence among healthcare workers to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including COVID-19. The research focused on evaluating hand hygiene adherence among physicians and nurses before touching hospitalized patients and assessing the impact of a multimodal hand hygiene intervention on hand hygiene adherence rates. The study found that hand hygiene adherence improved significantly after the implementation of the intervention, from 22.4% to 33.6%.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study emphasized the critical role of hand hygiene in preventing healthcare-associated infection and the spread of respiratory viruses like COVID-19.
  • The research found that hand hygiene adherence among healthcare workers in Japan was suboptimal, with only 22.4% adherence rate before the intervention.
  • A multimodal hand hygiene intervention, tailored to each hospital and implemented from September 2018 to February 2019, significantly improved hand hygiene adherence rates among healthcare workers.
  • The study observed 2,018 patient observations preintervention and 1,630 postintervention, with a significant improvement in hand hygiene adherence after the intervention.
  • The intervention components, including education and feedback, were evaluated and found to be effective in improving hand hygiene adherence.
  • The study highlighted the importance of hand hygiene adherence among healthcare workers before patient contact, particularly in the context of COVID-19.
  • The research concluded that given the current suboptimal hand hygiene adherence rates in Japanese hospitals, the spread of COVID-19 within the hospital setting is a concern.
  • The study's findings emphasize the need for continued efforts to improve hand hygiene adherence among healthcare workers to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, including COVID-19.
  • The multimodal hand hygiene intervention was implemented in four tertiary-care hospitals in Niigata, Japan, and had a positive impact on hand hygiene adherence rates.

Statistics:

  • 22.4% hand hygiene adherence rate among healthcare workers before the intervention.
  • 33.6% hand hygiene adherence rate among healthcare workers after the intervention.
  • 2,018 patient observations preintervention.
  • 1,630 patient observations postintervention.
  • Significant improvement in hand hygiene adherence after the intervention (p < 0.001).
  • The multimodal hand hygiene intervention was implemented from September 2018 to February 2019.

Sources:

  • Improving Hand Hygiene Adherence in Healthcare Workers Before Patient Contact: A Multimodal Intervention in Four Tertiary Care Hospitals in Japan. Journal of Hospital Medicine, 2020;15(5):262-267. (Wiley-Blackwell - www.wiley.com/; Journal of Hospital Medicine - onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1553-5606)
  • NewsRx. Findings from Department of Nursing Broadens Understanding of COVID-19 (Improving Hand Hygiene Adherence in Healthcare Workers Before Patient Contact: A Multimodal Intervention in Four Tertiary Care Hospitals in Japan). Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA. May 24, 2020; p 514.