Sustained increase in resident meal time hand hygiene through an interdisciplinary intervention engaging long-term care facility residents and staff

• Published in: American journal of infection control 2015-02, Vol.43 (2), p.162-164
• Main Authors: O'Donnell, Marguerite, RN, BSN, CIC, Harris, Tony, STNA, Horn, Terancita, RN, BSN, Midamba, Blondelle, MS, Primes, Vickie, BA, Sullivan, Nancy, RN, MSN, Shuler, Rosalyn, NP, MSN, Zabarsky, Trina F., RN, MSN, CIC, Deshpande, Abhishek, MD, PhD, Sunkesula, Venkata C.K., MD, MS, Kundrapu, Sirisha, MD, MS, Donskey, Curtis J., MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bacteria; Compliance; Engaging; Guideline Adherence; Guidelines as Topic; Hand Disinfection - methods; Hand hygiene; Hands; Humans; Hygiene; Infection Control; Infection Control - methods; Infection Control - standards; Infectious Disease; Interdisciplinary Communication; Intervention; Long term health care; Long-Term Care; Long-term care residents; Meals; Quality Improvement; United States; United States Department of Veterans Affairs
• ISSN: 0196-6553; 1527-3296
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2014.10.018

Hand hygiene by patients may prevent acquisition and dissemination of health care–associated pathogens, but limited efforts have been made to engage patients in hand hygiene interventions. In a long-term care facility, we found that residents were aware of the importance of hand hygiene, but barriers, such as inaccessible products or difficult to use products, limited compliance. A dramatic and sustained improvement in meal time hand hygiene was achieved through engagement of staff and residents.