title: Suspicion of viral gastroenteritis does improve compliance with hand hygiene.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Viral gastroenteritis is common on pediatric wards, increasing the need for adherence with hand hygiene recommendations in order to prevent cross-transmission. Therefore, we investigated hand hygiene reflecting complete work-day activities on pediatric wards and focused on the influence of viral gastroenteritis. There are, so far, no studies representing complete working days on pediatric wards or addressing the influence of viral gastroenteritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective, observational study (144 h in each group) on hand hygiene behavior in the care for children with and without suspected or proven viral gastroenteritis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We documented 40 and 30 hand hygiene opportunities per patient-day for ward-associated healthcare workers for children with and without viral gastroenteritis, respectively (P = 0.316). Healthcare workers' compliance with hand hygiene recommendations was significantly higher in children with viral gastroenteritis compared to those without, i.e., 72 versus 67% (P = 0.033), especially among physicians, being 92 versus 50% (P = 0.032). Compliance tended to be higher after patient contact than before, especially in the children with gastroenteritis (78 vs. 62%; P = 0.083).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that viral gastroenteritis seemed to increase the number of daily opportunities for hand hygiene and did significantly increase compliance. In particular, this effect was seen after patient contact. Further research might address the awareness of undiagnosed transmissible diseases in order to prevent cross-transmissions.
authors: Department of Infection Control and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany. sscheithauer@ukaachen.de
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Scheithauer
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Oude-Aost
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Stollbrink-Peschgens
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Haefner
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Waitschies
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Wagner
authors: S W
authors: SW
authors: Lemmen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002673:Child, Hospitalized; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005858:Germany; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000592:standards*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D017053:Infection Control / Q000592:standards; D017757:Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards*; D011446:Prospective Studies