Adherence to hand hygiene in an Italian long-term care facility.
In an Italian long-term-care facility (LTCF), we observed a 17.5% adherence to hand hygiene (HH), as well as 47.5% rate of glove use. Performing a procedure at high risk for cross-transmission of germs was the factor most strongly associated with noncompliance (odds ratio = 13.3; 95% confidence interval = 6.2 to 28.8; P < .0001). No significant differences in compliance related to health care worker category were found. Adherence to HH in the LTCF was similar to that found in a rehabilitation medicine unit of an acute care hospital (15.8%) but significantly lower than that reported in an infectious disease unit (53.7%; P < .0001). Our findings indicate that compliance with HH is a similar problem in LTCFs as in acute care facilities.
Pan
Angelo
A
Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy. ange.pan@tiscali.it
Domenighini
Francesca
F
Signorini
Liana
L
Assini
Renata
R
Catenazzi
Patrizia
P
Lorenzotti
Silvia
S
Patroni
Andrea
A
Carosi
Giampiero
G
Guerrini
Gianbattista
G
D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D006282:Health Personnel; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D017757:Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007558:Italy; D008134:Long-Term Care