Clean Hands Save Lives

• Date: February 16, 2010
• Source: www.nrls.npsa.nhs.uk

Significant gains have been made in highlighting the need for best practice in hand hygiene over the last four years. The reduction in MRSA bacteraemia can in part be attributed to the concerted action across the NHS. However, to maintain this and other improvements it is vital that hand hygiene remains high on the patient safety agenda. Improving the hand hygiene of healthcare staff at the point of patient care will reduce healthcare associated infection (HCAI). Hands are a repository for microorganisms that can cause infection. Healthcare staff in all healthcare settings have the greatest chance of transferring these as they move between patients, or different care activities for the same patient. ational and international studies continue to reinforce the fact that infection rates can be significantly reduced, by at least 15 per cent, where a multi-modal strategy has been introduced to improve hand hygiene.1, 2, 3, 4 Significant progress has been made, however hand hygiene compliance still remains lower than it should be.
 

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