Hand washing and gloving practices among anaesthetists.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the complinance of anaesthetists towards gloving on shifting the patients to post anaesthesia care unit and hand hygiene before leaving the PACU.


METHODS
The observational study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital. An assigned nurse in the PACU was asked to observe the anaesthetists and mark on a proforma, the wearing of gloves during shifting a patient and later hand washing or using an alcohol rub before leaving the room.


RESULTS
A total of 496 observations were made. Overall compliance with wearing gloves during shifting of patients to PACU was 70% and practice of hand hygiene was observed in 62% of anaesthetists


CONCLUSIONS
Implementation of hand hygiene policy and education has positive effects among anaesthetists. Compliance to the policy remained above fifty percent. In order to further improve the situation continuous education and definitive administration measures of hand hygiene practices are suggested.
Khan
Mueen Ullah
MU
Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Aga Khan University, Karachi.
Siddiqui
Khalid Maudood
KM
D000758:Anesthesia; D005932:Gloves, Surgical; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010154:Pakistan; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016635:Universal Precautions