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. 2013 Jan;69(1):54-6.
doi: 10.1016/j.mjafi.2012.08.011. Epub 2012 Nov 30.

Hand hygiene practices among health care workers (HCWs) in a tertiary care facility in Pune

V Anargh  1 , Harpreet Singh  2 , Aniket Kulkarni  2 , Atul Kotwal  3 , Ajoy Mahen  4
Affiliations

Hand hygiene practices among health care workers (HCWs) in a tertiary care facility in Pune

V Anargh et al. Med J Armed Forces India. 2013 Jan.

Abstract

Background: Improper hand hygiene by healthcare workers (HCWs) is responsible for about 40% of nosocomial infections resulting in prolonged illnesses, hospital stays, long-term disability and unexpected high costs on patients and their families, and also lead to a massive additional financial burden on the health-care system.

Objective: To assess knowledge and practices regarding hand hygiene among HCWs of a tertiary health care facility.

Methods: A cross sectional, questionnaire and observation based study was carried out in a tertiary care health care facility in Pune. Based on sample size calculations, 100 HCWs working in medical and surgical wards were studied.

Results: The proportion knowledgeable about hand hygiene practices was 85% and 73% HCWs were of the belief that unclean hands are an important route of cross transmission. WHO guidelines regarding procedure were being followed by 90% for hand washing with soap and water and 64% for alcohol based rubs. Majority preferred hand washing with soap and water over hand rubbing with alcohol based solutions. 21% of HCWs were missing hand hygiene opportunities 1 in 5 times. Heavy workload (38%), non availability (52%) and inaccessibility (9%) of hand hygiene facilities were the common reasons for non-compliance. Availability of 'one time use paper towels' was low (12%).

Conclusion: Inadequate compliance despite knowledge and false sense of security by alcohol based rubs was seen. A multi disciplinary, multifaceted approach is required to tackle issues of non-compliance.

Keywords: Hand hygiene; Health care workers; Nosocomial infections; Tertiary health care facility; Universal precautions.

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