title: Influence of signal colored hand disinfectant dispensers on hand hygiene compliance at a medical intensive care unit.
abstract: To assess the influence of signal colors on hand disinfectant dispenser activities, health care workers (HCWs) at a medical intensive care unit were analyzed for a total of 20 weeks with 8 weeks before and 12 weeks after exchange to signal color. No significant increase in hand rubs (HRs) per patient day (PD) was observed (about 40 HRs/PD); however, HCW-adjusted compliance showed a 6% increase with signal colored devices. Therefore, colored devices may help to improve hand hygiene compliance.
authors.affiliation: Central Institute of Infection Control and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany; Central Institute of Infection Control and Infectious Diseases, University Medicine Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany. Electronic address: sscheithauer@ukaachen.de.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scheithauer
authors.affiliation: Central Institute of Infection Control and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Helga
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Häfner
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine I, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schröder
authors.affiliation: Central Institute of Infection Control and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nowicki
authors.affiliation: Central Institute of Infection Control and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lemmen
mesh_terms: D004202:Disinfectants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D063373:Hand Hygiene / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants
keywords: Compliance; Hand hygiene; Infection control; Novel technologies