title: Systematic observation of hand decontamination.
abstract: Meticulous infection control precautions are required to prevent healthcare-associated infection, with particular attention to hand hygiene and universal precautions. A detailed observation study undertaken in the early 1990s still has clear messages for infection control today. To prevent the spread of infection in clinical settings, nurses need adequate time and resources to comply with infection control protocols. Pressure of work and staff shortages still mitigate against safe practice today despite greater awareness of the importance of infection control.
authors.affiliation: St Bartholomew School of Nursing and Midwifery, City University, London. D.Gould@city.ac.uk
authors.forename: Dinah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gould
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003625:Data Collection; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D019370:Observation; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000458:organization & administration; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017748:Time Management; D016526:Workload