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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2015 Oct;27(5):405-11.
doi: 10.1093/intqhc/mzv065. Epub 2015 Sep 7.

A multimodal intervention to improve hand hygiene in ICUs in Buenos Aires, Argentina: a stepped wedge trial

Viviana Rodriguez  1 , Carolina Giuffre  2 , Silvia Villa  2 , Griselda Almada  2 , Nittita Prasopa-Plaizier  3 , Monica Gogna  4 , Luz Gibbons  1 , Ezequiel García Elorrio  1 ; Argentinian Group Hand Hygiene Improvement
Collaborators, Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

A multimodal intervention to improve hand hygiene in ICUs in Buenos Aires, Argentina: a stepped wedge trial

Viviana Rodriguez et al. Int J Qual Health Care. 2015 Oct.

Abstract

Issue: Hand hygiene is a cost-effective measure to reduce microbial transmission (Teare EL, Cookson B, French GL, et al. UK handwashing initiative. J Hosp Infect. 1999;43:1-3.) and is considered to be the most important measure to prevent healthcare-associated infections (Pittet D, Allegranzi B, Sax H, Evidence-based model for hand transmission during patient care and the role of improved practices. Lancet Infect Dis 2006;6:641-52). Unfortunately, the compliance rate of healthcare workers (HCWs) with recommended hand hygiene procedures is less than expected.

Initial assessment: In order to estimate the effect of a multimodal intervention on improving healthcare workers' compliance with hand hygiene in eleven intensive care units (ICUs) from 11 hospitals of Buenos Aires, a randomized cluster-stepped wedge trial was designed.

Choice of solution and implementation: A multimodal intervention was designed based on practices characterized by being evidence-based, low cost and suggested by qualitative research: (i) leadership commitment, (ii) surveillance of materials needed to comply with hand hygiene and alcohol consumption, (iii) utilization of reminders, (iv) a storyboard of the project and (v) feedback (hand hygiene compliance rate).

Evaluation: The study enrolled 705 participants, comprising nurses (66.4%), physicians (25.8%) and other HCW (7.8%) along 9 months of observation. Compliance with hand hygiene in the control group was 66.0% (2354/3565) vs. 75.6% (5190/6864) in the intervention group. Univariate analysis showed an association between the intervention and hand hygiene compliance (odds ratio, OR 1.17; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.13-1.22). The effect was still present after adjustment by calendar's time and providers' characteristics-age, gender and profession (OR 1.08; 95% CI, 1.03-1.14).

Lessons learned: His study supports that a multimodal intervention was effective to improve compliance with hand hygiene in ICUs.

Keywords: Argentina; WHO; hand hygiene; infection control; intensive care unit; multimodal intervention.

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