title: Keeping patients safe: an interventional hand hygiene study at an oncology center.
abstract: Healthcare-associated infections (HCIs) continue to affect patient morbidity and mortality and contribute to the rising cost of health care. Factors associated with the rise of HCIs in patients with cancer may include an increase in antimicrobial resistance and treatment effects of radiation and chemotherapeutic agents. Infection control and prevention practices can decrease infection rates among patients with cancer. In an effort to reduce HCIs and increase awareness, an interventional study was conducted at an oncology center to investigate hand hygiene compliance of healthcare professionals before and after the introduction of a handheld sanitizer spray. Although healthcare professionals had a positive response to the spray, it did not improve compliance rates.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Health Studies, University of Miami, FL, USA. atjsiegel@miami.edu
authors.forename: Jeanne H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Siegel
authors.forename: Denise M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Korniewicz
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D017053:Infection Control / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D004202:Disinfectants