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Review
. 2009 Oct;106(40):649-55.
doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2009.0649. Epub 2009 Oct 2.

Hand hygiene for the prevention of nosocomial infections

Günter Kampf  1 , Harald Löffler, Petra Gastmeier
Affiliations
Review

Hand hygiene for the prevention of nosocomial infections

Günter Kampf et al. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2009 Oct.

Abstract

Background: The WHO regards hand hygiene as an essential tool for the prevention of nosocomial infection, but compliance in clinical practice is often low.

Methods: The relevant scientific literature and national and international evidence-based recommendations (Robert Koch Institute [Germany], WHO) were evaluated.

Results: Hygienic hand disinfection has better antimicrobial efficacy than hand-washing and is the procedure of choice to be performed before and after manual contact with patients. The hands should be washed, rather than disinfected, only when they are visibly soiled. Skin irritation is quite common among healthcare workers and is mainly caused by water, soap, and prolonged wearing of gloves. Compliance can be improved by training, by placing hand-rub dispensers at the sites where they are needed, and by physicians setting a good example for others.

Conclusions: Improved compliance in hand hygiene, with proper use of alcohol-based hand rubs, can reduce the nosocomial infection rate by as much as 40%.

Keywords: compliance; disinfection; hand hygiene; nosocomial infection; protective gloves.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Early irritant skin changes between the digits
Figure 2
Figure 2
Manifest irritant hand eczema
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

References

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