According to the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, approximately 2 million patients in the United States acquire infections while hospitalized for other conditions. These infections account for 88,000 deaths and cost approximately $4.6 billion. In the September addition of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, a study examines how a simple technique of hand washing can reduce these infections.

According to the study, “Nosocomial [originating in the hospital] infections constitute a major source of morbidity and mortality for patients in neonatal [first 4 weeks after birth] intensive care units (NICUs). Prior surveillance studies have shown that the rates of nosocomial infections range from 11% to 22%.” Despite the use of prophylactic antibiotics, and a variety of barriers infections in NICUs still remain high.

A hand washing initiative was started in the National Taiwan University Hospital to attempt to examine what impact this would have on the infection rate. The initiative that took several years involved placing “cartoons showing the correct steps for hand washing” above sinks, labels with slogans “Clean Hands, Prevent Infection”, lectures, bulletins, public praise, monitoring, and the use of awards. These were all used in order to increase understanding of the issue and compliance with increased hand hygiene. The program was successful in increasing hand hygiene from 43% at the beginning of the program to 81% at the end of the study.

The study showed that this simple and elementary hygiene technique reduced the infection rate. The rate per 1,000 patient-days dropped from 15.13 at the study start to 10.21 at the end of the study. The decrease in respiratory infection was more pronounced. The infection rate dropped from 3.35 per 1,000 patient-days at the beginning of the program to 1.06 by the end of the program.

The authors conclude, “Hand washing is a simple and economical intervention that can lower the incidence of nosocomial infection. Compliance with hand hygiene can be sustained with an ongoing multidisciplinary campaign involving monitoring compliance and providing feedback to HCWs [Health Care Workers].”

Source: Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, September 2004
Link: