The website of the Clinical Services Journal

Improving patients' hand hygiene

Improving patient hand hygiene has been shown to reduce the transmission of MRSA and respiratory viruses. Encouraging hand sanitisation twice a day for patients and their relatives reduced MRSA infections by 51% (Gagné et al, JHI, 2007). Cheng et al (JHI, 2007) showed similar results: where patients sanitised their hands every 4 hours to prevent respiratory virus infection outbreaks.

Despite the impact these interventions can have, patient hand hygiene is often overlooked. So, how can we improve patient hand hygiene? Giving them ready access to hand hygiene products is an important step forward.

In a UK general hospital, implementing a patient hand hygiene bundle increased patient hand hygiene compliance from 13% to 60% (Loveday et al, AM J Infect Cont, 2021).

The intervention consisted of three key elements:

  • Hand wipe pack of 40 wipes provided to each patient.
  • Patient information card advising patients when to perform hand hygiene.
  • Staff protocol to encourage patients to clean their hands.

Hand wipes clean as well as disinfect and Clinell Antimicrobial Hand Wipes have been shown to be as effective as soap and water (Wilkinson et al, JHI, 2017), making them an ideal patient hand hygiene solution.

 

Upcoming Events

Continence Care and Tissue Viability Conference

Grand Station Wolverhampton
21 June 2023

Hygiene and sustainability in endoscopy: finding the balance

Online Event
Thursday 22nd June 2023

EBME Expo 2023

Judds Lane, Coventry, England, GB, CV6 6
28th - 29th June 2023

AfPP Annual Conference 2023

University of York
10- 13 August 2023

MEDICA - Leading International Trade Fair

Schadowstraße 49, 40212 Düsseldorf, Germany
13- 16 November 2023

Future Surgery

Excel Centre London
14 - 15 November 2023

Access the latest issue of Clinical Services Journal on your mobile device together with an archive of back issues.

Download the FREE Clinical Services Journal app from your device's App store

Upcoming Events

Continence Care and Tissue Viability Conference

Grand Station Wolverhampton
21 June 2023

Hygiene and sustainability in endoscopy: finding the balance

Online Event
Thursday 22nd June 2023

EBME Expo 2023

Judds Lane, Coventry, England, GB, CV6 6
28th - 29th June 2023

AfPP Annual Conference 2023

University of York
10- 13 August 2023

MEDICA - Leading International Trade Fair

Schadowstraße 49, 40212 Düsseldorf, Germany
13- 16 November 2023

Future Surgery

Excel Centre London
14 - 15 November 2023

Access the latest issue of Clinical Services Journal on your mobile device together with an archive of back issues.

Download the FREE Clinical Services Journal app from your device's App store

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