[Consumption of hand-hygiene products in health establishments in the west of France].
OBJECTIVE
The study had for aim to investigate hand hygiene product use in French hospitals between 2000 and 2003.


METHODS
A questionnaire was sent in 2002 and 2 more in 2003 and 2004 (for 2000 to 2003) requiring data on type of hospital, number of beds, staff members, admissions and patient-day, litres of mild soap, antiseptic soap and alcohol-based rub used and price per litre. Indices were calculated accordingly.


RESULTS
574 hospitals answered over the 4 year period (average 143 per year) representing an average of 50 000 beds/year, 80 000 full-time staff positions, 1.2 million admissions and 16 millions patient-days. The median consumption of mild soap was 3.8 l per bed, 2.7 l per staff member, 2.4 l per 100 admissions, and 10.6 ml per patient-day. The median consumption of antiseptic soap was 1 l per bed, 0.8 l per staff member, 4.8 l per 100 admissions, and 3.2 ml per patient-day. The median consumption of alcohol-based rub (HAS) was 0.3 l per bed, 0.3 l per staff-member, 1.5 l per admission, and 0.9 l per patient-day. Between 2000 and 2003, HAS use significantly increased from 69 to 88% (a relative increase of 31%) and the median consumption increased from 0.5 ml to 1.5 ml per patient-day. 370 fully completed grids gave a number of 7 opportunities per patient-day with less than 1 for HAS.


CONCLUSIONS
The best indicator for an infection control practitioners is the quantity of alcohol-based solution in ml/patient-day and HAS per patient-day is the reference.
Branger
B
B
Service d'épidémiologie, C.CLIN-Ouest, CHU de Pontchaillou, 35033 Rennes, France. bernard.branger@chu-rennes.fr
Senechal
H
H
Bataillon
S
S
Ertzscheid
M A
MA
Baron
R
R
Borgey
F
F
Thibon
P
P
Van Der Mee
N
N
Girard
N
N
Wiesel
M
M
Avril
C
C
Coulomb
F
F
Chaperon
J
J
Lejeune
B
B
D000438:Alcohols; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000191:economics; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000191:economics; D005602:France; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006268:Health Facilities / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006742:Hospital Bed Capacity; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene / Q000191:economics; D017757:Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient / Q000517:prevention & control; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012915:Soaps / Q000191:economics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000438:Alcohols; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D004202:Disinfectants; D012915:Soaps