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Increasing Handwashing Compliance With More Accessible Sinks

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Lois M. Kaplan  and
Maryanne McGuckin
Lois M. Kaplan*
Affiliation:
Infection Control Division, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Maryanne McGuckin
Affiliation:
Infection Control Division, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
*
Magee Women's Hospital, Virology Department, Forbes and Halket Streets, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
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Abstract

The frequency of handwashing in two intensive care units (ICUs) was observed. Handwashing after direct contact with patients or their support equipment was recorded. The ratio of beds to sinks was 1:1 in the medical ICU and 4:1 in the surgical ICU. Surveillance of physicians, nurses, and other personnel demonstrated a greater frequency of handwashing by nurses (63%) compared with physicians (19%) and other personnel (25%). The nurses in the unit with one sink per bed had a significantly greater number of handwashes (76%) than those in the unit with fewer sinks (51%).

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 7 , Issue 8 , August 1986 , pp. 408 - 410
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1986

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