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TITLE:

HAND HYGIENE IN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT: A LIFE-SAVING OPPORTUNITY IN PATIENT CARE

AUTHORS:

Dr. Sarwat Saif, Dr. Umair Ashfaq, Dr. Amjad Ali Raza

ABSTRACT:

Abstract: Background: Health care associated infections (HCAI) are common in critically ill patients of ICU and hand hygiene compliance helps to reduce the incidence of HCAI. The purpose of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitude, practices and barriers in compliance of hand hygiene among Intensive care staff. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at Services Hospital Lahore and Mayo Hospital Lahore. The target population was the intensive care unit staff. Systematic non-probability Consecutive sampling technique was used. A well-structured questionnaire was developed from WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care and past literature. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 was used for data entry and analysis. Results: A total of 363 participants were included in this study. 267 (73.6%) of the participants had received formal education on hand hygiene. 57% of the participants correctly knew the main route of germ transmission in HCAI as hands of healthcare workers. 241 (66%) of the participants knew that the main source of germ transmission was from patients in case of healthcare-associated infections. 209 (57.6%) of the participants knew that 20 sec is the minimum time required to achieve effective hand hygiene according to WHO guidelines. According to 147(40.5%) of the participants liquid hand wash is available for hand washing in the hospital setting, 106 (29.2%) of the Participants reported alcohol-based hand rubs,28. (7.7%) soap bar 52(14.3%) only water availability, ,and 30(8.3%) nothing was available for hand washing. Majority, 264(72.7%) of the participants reported the use of atmospheric air for hand drying. 324 (89%) of the participants showed willing to attend training session on hand hygiene. Hand hygiene practices were found to be suboptimum in junior doctors and there was a statistically significant association between hand hygiene practices and designation. Main barriers leading to non-compliance with hand hygiene include lack of knowledge regarding the impact of hand hygiene on HCAI, forgetting to wash hands and lack of time. Conclusion: Despite the satisfactory knowledge and attitude of health hygiene among intensive care unit staff, Hand hygiene practices are found to be sub-optimum. Keywords: Hand hygiene, hand wash, germ transmission.

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