Can alcohol hand rubs increase compliance with hand hygiene?

Abstract

A review of the literature indicates that alcohol hand rubs reduce microbial load, are less irritant to the skin of healthcare workers, and are more easily accessible than conventional methods of hand hygiene. The review also indicates that using alcohol hand rub increases compliance to hand hygiene guideline rates by 25%. This study examines whether making alcohol hand rubs readily available to healthcare workers will increase and maintain compliance with hand hygiene protocols and guidelines, thereby reducing nosocomial infection, or whether the methods of staff education on the use and benefits of products and other interventions need to be examined.