From-Hansen, M., Hansen, M. B., Hansen, R., Sinnerup, K. M., & Emme, C. (2023). Empowering healthcare workers with personalized data-driven feedback to boost hand hygiene compliance. American Journal of Infection Control, 52(1), 21–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2023.09.014
This article presented a study where the use of an electronic monitoring system for hand hygiene was assessed. The article presented the challenge of nurses adhering to hand hygiene guidelines in preventing hospital-acquired infections. According to the article, the resource to be used to remedy this is an automated electronic system that gives personalized feedback to each nurse. It is a self-directed approach where nurses have to keep a check on their hand hygiene. From the article, the study concluded that the automated system was a success with a 15% reduction in hospital-acquired infections. Nurses can use this system to document their hand hygiene practices on a daily basis. Doing so will improve this practice and allow further compliance by all nurses.
Gastmeier, P. (2020). From “one size fits all” to personalized infection prevention. Journal of Hospital Infection, 104(3), 256–260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2019.12.010
This article presents a study that identifies the two major risk factors of hospital-acquired infections: exogenous origin and endogenous micro-organisms. Out of these two, the major risk factor has been of exogenous origin with issues such as poor hand hygiene, lack of proper disinfection and sterilization of surgical materials, and poor overall hygiene. The article goes on to highlight the changes that have taken place such as single use of items to further lower the risk of infections. Similarly, nurses are now adopting new hand hygiene protocols that have greatly contributed to the reduced rate of infections. Nurses can use this information as a checking point for where they are at with preventing hospital-acquired infections. Nurses can choose to take a step further by ensuring equipment is well sterilized and disinfected as well as providing a clean environment for their patients.
Haque, M., McKimm, J., Sartelli, M., Dhingra, S., Labricciosa, F. M., Islam, S., Jahan, D., Nusrat, T., Chowdhury, T. S., Coccolini, F., Iskandar, K., Catena, F., & Charan, J. (2020). Strategies to prevent healthcare-associated infections: A narrative overview. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, 13(1), 1765–1780. https://doi.org/10.2147/RMHP.S269315
The article starts off by identifying that hospital-acquired infections are the second leading cause of death globally. Out of 100 patients admitted to the hospital, seven of them contract a type of HAI. Furthermore, the article acknowledges that hand hygiene is primary to preventing the occurrence of HIAs. However, the concept has not been properly adopted by nurses worldwide. Using this source, nurses can identify the urgency of practicing hand hygiene on their own. Nurses can opt to set regulations in place that encourage them to keep practicing this old practice that still holds a lot of meaning.
Ji, B., & Ye, W. (2024). Prevention and control of hospital-acquired infections with multidrug-resistant organism: A review. PubMed, 103(4), e37018–e37018. https://doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000037018
The article addresses the issue of multidrug resistance as being the major cause of hospital infection in America. Over 2.8 million infections are caused yearly through contact with drug-resistant bacteria. Furthermore, the article points to multidrug-resistant infections being able to spread through contact with healthcare workers. That is why the article discusses extensively the need for hand hygiene measures. According to the article, by observing hand hygiene measures, over 50% of HAI cases can be prevented. Each individual should take it upon themselves to observe the hand hygiene measures set in place. This source is helpful to nurses as it enlightens them on the different ways a patient can be re-infected in a hospital and the danger it poses to nurses as well. Nurses should therefore take heed and remain keen on hand hygiene protocols.