title: Improving hand hygiene in community healthcare settings: the impact of research and clinical collaboration.
abstract: Observation of nursing activities and bacteriological studies undertaken with a sample of nurses employed in a community NHS trust indicated that considerable scope for cross infection existed during domiciliary visits. Poor conditions in patients' homes compromised nurses' ability to perform hand hygiene effectively, increasing risks. A clinical trial indicated that carriage of medically significant bacteria likely to contribute to cross infection could be reduced by applying an antiseptic cream which exhibited residual effectiveness. An audit of hand hygiene throughout the inner city trust indicated the need to pay greater attention to hand hygiene, especially during home nursing visits. The situation was less acute in a rural trust where a second audit was performed for comparative purposes. The motivation of clinical staff to improve hand hygiene precautions was high.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, South Bank University, London, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gould
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gammon
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Donnelly
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Batiste
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: De Melo
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Alidad
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miles
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Halablab
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000592:standards*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D009731:Nursing Audit; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology*; D009824:Ointments
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D009824:Ointments