title: Hand Hygiene: An Update.
abstract: The medical field has long recognized the importance of hand hygiene in preventing health care-associated infections, yet studies indicate that this important task is performed only 40% of the time. Health care workers cite several barriers to optimal performance of hand hygiene, but the time required to perform this task is foremost among them. Introduction of alcohol-based hand rubs, bundled interventions, and incorporation of technologies designed to monitor and promote hand hygiene all represent promising advances in this field.
authors: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 645 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 900, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. Electronic address: m-bolon@northwestern.edu.
authors: Maureen K
authors: MK
authors: Bolon
mesh_terms: D000438:Alcohols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D063373:Hand Hygiene; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000438:Alcohols; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local
keywords: Alcohol-based hand rub; Hand hygiene; Handwashing; Health care-associated infections