The effect of hand hygiene audit in COVID intensive care units in a tertiary care hospital in South India

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2021.07.008
• Publication Date: 2021-07-23T11:29:58Z
• Authors: Symphonia Anguraj; Priyadarshi Ketan; Monika Sivaradjy; Lakshmi Shanmugam; Imola Jamir; Anusha Cherian; Apurba Sankar Sastry
• Keywords: Pandemic

BackgroundIn the era of COVID-19 pandemic, there is an upsurge healthcare-associated infections (HAI) in COVID intensive care units (ICUs), which can be reduced by following proper hand hygiene (HH) practice. Performing HH auditing ICU and providing timely feedback to stake holders crucial reduce HAIs.MethodsFrom November 2020- April 2021, audit was conducted ICUs. complete adherence rate (HHCAR), partial (HHPAR) total (HHTAR) were analyzed. Profession-specific HHTAR moment-specific (for each WHO moment) also calculated.ResultsHHCAR, HHPAR found as 30.8%, 34.5% 65.3% respectively. There a significant increase monthly from 26.7% 68.4% (P < .001). The profession-specific HHAR highest among doctors (67.5%) nurses (66.4%). As increases decrease device associated infection (DAI) 24.7 11.5 per 1,000 days.ConclusionsAuditing significantly improved compliance. need hour regularly conduct locations all healthcare facilities HAI COVID- 19 infected patients