Hand hygiene: a review of adherence and practice of health professionals in hospital infection control

Authors

  • Écila Campos Mota Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros-MG

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17058/reci.v4i1.4052

Abstract

Backgound and Objectives: To assess adherence and practice of health professionals regarding hand hygiene. Method: This is an observational, field study with a quantitative approach. The study was carried out in a hospital in the north of Minas Gerais in 2012. The study sample consisted of 65 employees of the institution, comprising different professional categories. Data collection was performed during two weeks in an average of five hours of daily observations during the day and night shifts, totaling approximately one hundred hours of observation. For that purpose, two previously tested and validated tools were used: one to evaluate the number of opportunities for hand hygiene and another to evaluate the correct technique. Results: After analyzing the data, it was observed that of the nursing staff, nurse technicians (70%), nurses (81.8%) and medical teams (51.9%) adhered to hand hygiene techniques with soap and water. Regarding the adequacy of the techniques recommended by the Ministry of Health, it was observed that the nutritionist and pharmacist categories performed hand hygiene 100% correctly and that the main failures in hygiene procedures concerned closing of the tap with a paper towel. Conclusion: The importance given to the practice of hand hygiene by health professionals is of utmost importance for nosocomial infection control.

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Author Biography

Écila Campos Mota, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros-MG

1Enfermeira. Mestre em Enfermagem. Especialista em Epidemiologia. Docente do Departamento de Enfermagem da Faculdade de Saúde e Desenvolvimento Humano Santo Agostinho, Faculdades Integradas Pitágoras e Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros. Montes Claros (MG), Brasil

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Published

2014-01-04

How to Cite

Mota, Écila C. (2014). Hand hygiene: a review of adherence and practice of health professionals in hospital infection control. Revista De Epidemiologia E Controle De Infecção, 4(1), 12-17. https://doi.org/10.17058/reci.v4i1.4052

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 1 (2014)

Section

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

License

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