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The effect of providing a rinseless handwashing agent at the bedside in modifying handwashing frequency
Volume Awil
15 Number
2
Abstracts
1987
THE EFFECT OF PROVIDING A RINSELESS HANDWASHING AGENT AT THE BEDSIDE IN MODIFYING HANDWASHING FREQUENCY. E. Hedrick*, B. Hamory, L. Peterson-Homer. University of Missouri Hospitals and Clinics, Columbia, MO. The spread of nosocomial pathogens within a hospital is widely acknowledged as being most commonly accomplished by hand carriage of microorganisms between patients. Previous studies of methods to improve handwashing (HW) practices have focused on (1) education, (2) provision of adequate sinks in intensive care areas, and (3) construction of barriers between patients in intensive care units. Most of these studies have measured change by physically placing an observer within the intensive care unit (ICU), ostensibly for a purpose other than evaluation of HW practices. None have shown either a major change in behavior or a sustained improvement in the frequency or quality of HW employed in the ICU. The availability of an alcohol-based hand rinse (CalstatTM, Calgon Corporation, St. Louis, Missouri) makes possible the delivery of a skin disinfectant to the bedside. A prospective study has been initiated to evaluate if a skin disinfectant placed at the bedside and/or other key locations within an ICU will improve handwashing frequency. In this study, observers are replaced by permanently installed video cameras placed in the unit for a period of time prior to the beginning of the study to reduce the “Hawthorne” effect.
SEMI-QUANTITATIVE COMPARISON OF BACTERIAL COLONIZATION LEVELS OF ARTIFICIAL NAILS VERSUS NATURAL NAILS BEFORE AND AFTER HANDWASHING. J. Pottinger*, S. Burns, C. Manske. APIC Grand Canyon, Phoenix Metropolitan Area, AZ. Artificial nails have become fashionable in recent years because they promote the appearance of graceful shape and length to the hand. In an era where outward appearance is promoted es being important, many health care workers are concerned about the impact that artificial nails might have on handwashing practices, potential for bacterial colonization, and transmission of organisms. There are no published studies demonstrating the level of bacterial colonization of artificial nails. This study is designed to measure bacterial colonization of artificial and natural nails, and to compare the levels of colonization between the two groups. The study is presented as a handwashing study to avoid possible hiss. The sample size will be 100 nurses with artificial nails and 100 nurses with natural nails. Each nurse with artificial nails will be paired with a nurse from the same patient care area who has natural nails. The nurses for both groups will be selected from several hospitals. Infection Control Nurses from APIC Grand Canyon will provide assistance in this effort as needed. Cultures from participating nurses will be obtained by agitating the fingertips of the dominant hand in Thioglycollate broth. A timed 10 second handwssh will be observed, and repeat cultures of the fingertips will be obtained. The before and after cultures will be compared for total colony forming units, percent of flora that are gram-negative rods and Staphylococci, and incidences of fungal growth. Preliminary results will be presented comparing bacterial colonization between artificial and natural nails.
Bound volumes available Bound volumes of AMERICAN JOURNAL subscribers (only) for the 1987 issues from international) for Vol. 15 (January-December). volume contains a subject and author index is durable buckram with the journal name,
to subscribers
OF INFECTION CONTROL are available to the Publisher, at a cost of $24.00 ($30.00 Shipping charges are included, Each bound and all advertising is removed. The binding volume number, and year stamped in gold
on the spine. Payment must accompany all orders. Contact The C. V. Mosby Circulation Department, 11830 Westline Industrial Drive, St. Louis, Missouri phone 800-325-4177, ext. 351.
Subscriptions must be in force to qualify. of a regular journal subscription.
93
Company, 63146 USA;
Bound volumes are not available
in place
15 Number
2
Abstracts
1987
THE EFFECT OF PROVIDING A RINSELESS HANDWASHING AGENT AT THE BEDSIDE IN MODIFYING HANDWASHING FREQUENCY. E. Hedrick*, B. Hamory, L. Peterson-Homer. University of Missouri Hospitals and Clinics, Columbia, MO. The spread of nosocomial pathogens within a hospital is widely acknowledged as being most commonly accomplished by hand carriage of microorganisms between patients. Previous studies of methods to improve handwashing (HW) practices have focused on (1) education, (2) provision of adequate sinks in intensive care areas, and (3) construction of barriers between patients in intensive care units. Most of these studies have measured change by physically placing an observer within the intensive care unit (ICU), ostensibly for a purpose other than evaluation of HW practices. None have shown either a major change in behavior or a sustained improvement in the frequency or quality of HW employed in the ICU. The availability of an alcohol-based hand rinse (CalstatTM, Calgon Corporation, St. Louis, Missouri) makes possible the delivery of a skin disinfectant to the bedside. A prospective study has been initiated to evaluate if a skin disinfectant placed at the bedside and/or other key locations within an ICU will improve handwashing frequency. In this study, observers are replaced by permanently installed video cameras placed in the unit for a period of time prior to the beginning of the study to reduce the “Hawthorne” effect.
SEMI-QUANTITATIVE COMPARISON OF BACTERIAL COLONIZATION LEVELS OF ARTIFICIAL NAILS VERSUS NATURAL NAILS BEFORE AND AFTER HANDWASHING. J. Pottinger*, S. Burns, C. Manske. APIC Grand Canyon, Phoenix Metropolitan Area, AZ. Artificial nails have become fashionable in recent years because they promote the appearance of graceful shape and length to the hand. In an era where outward appearance is promoted es being important, many health care workers are concerned about the impact that artificial nails might have on handwashing practices, potential for bacterial colonization, and transmission of organisms. There are no published studies demonstrating the level of bacterial colonization of artificial nails. This study is designed to measure bacterial colonization of artificial and natural nails, and to compare the levels of colonization between the two groups. The study is presented as a handwashing study to avoid possible hiss. The sample size will be 100 nurses with artificial nails and 100 nurses with natural nails. Each nurse with artificial nails will be paired with a nurse from the same patient care area who has natural nails. The nurses for both groups will be selected from several hospitals. Infection Control Nurses from APIC Grand Canyon will provide assistance in this effort as needed. Cultures from participating nurses will be obtained by agitating the fingertips of the dominant hand in Thioglycollate broth. A timed 10 second handwssh will be observed, and repeat cultures of the fingertips will be obtained. The before and after cultures will be compared for total colony forming units, percent of flora that are gram-negative rods and Staphylococci, and incidences of fungal growth. Preliminary results will be presented comparing bacterial colonization between artificial and natural nails.
Bound volumes available Bound volumes of AMERICAN JOURNAL subscribers (only) for the 1987 issues from international) for Vol. 15 (January-December). volume contains a subject and author index is durable buckram with the journal name,
to subscribers
OF INFECTION CONTROL are available to the Publisher, at a cost of $24.00 ($30.00 Shipping charges are included, Each bound and all advertising is removed. The binding volume number, and year stamped in gold
on the spine. Payment must accompany all orders. Contact The C. V. Mosby Circulation Department, 11830 Westline Industrial Drive, St. Louis, Missouri phone 800-325-4177, ext. 351.
Subscriptions must be in force to qualify. of a regular journal subscription.
93
Company, 63146 USA;
Bound volumes are not available
in place