1. Background
The transfer of organisms between humans can occur directly via hands, or indirectly via an environmental source (e.g. clinical equipment, toys or sinks). It is universally acknowledged that the hands are the principal route by which cross-infection occurs and that hand hygiene is the single most important factor in the control of infection. Hand hygiene is now regarded as one of the most important element of infection control activities. In 2010, in England, infectious diseases accounted for 7% of all deaths, 4% of all potential years of life lost (to age 75) and were also the primary cause of admission for 8% of all hospital bed days, and they are responsible for a large proportion of sickness absence from work [1] . It is estimated that 300,000 patients a year in England acquire a healthcare-associated infection as a result of care within the NHS, a prevalence rate of 8.2% [2] . In 2007, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections and Clostridium difficile infections were recorded as the underlying cause of or a contributory factor in, approximately 9000 deaths in hospital and primary care in England. Healthcare-associated infections are estimated to cost the NHS approximately £1 billion a year. In addition to increased costs, each one of these infections means additional use of NHS resources, greater patient discomfort and a decrease in patient safety. In the wake of the growing burden of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs), the increasing severity of illness and complexity of treatment, superimposed by multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogen infections, healthcare practitioners (HCPs) are reversing back to the basics of infection preventions by simple measures like hand hygiene. However, studies on hand hygiene compliance among healthcare workers have repeatedly shown poor compliance with hand hygiene. The hands of HCWs are commonly colonized with pathogens like methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA), vancomycin resistant Enterococcus (VRE), MDR-Gram Negative bacteria (GNBs), Candida spp. and Clostridium difficle, which can survive for as long as 150 h. Proper hand hygiene is the single most important, simplest, and least expensive means of reducing the prevalence of HAIs and the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
2. Method & Sample
Prospective observational data were collected over 2 weeks from 4th December to 17th December 2017. Standard was set by the local guideline and the following things were monitored for different levels of employees. If they were bare bellow the Elbow, if they had rings with stones or grooves or wrist watches, if they used Alcohol-based hand rub before and after each patient contact. Employees from different categories were observed on different occasions for 217 times.
3. Results
Within 2 weeks’ time, people from different staff groups were observed on different occasions for 217 times. Consultants were observed total 27 times during their ward round. Simultaneously Registrars were observed 35 times, SHOs 31 times, ANPs (advanced nurse practitioners) 44 times, nurses 61 times, allied professionals 30 times and the domestics 33 times. Only 37% of the consultants were bare bellow elbow while nursing staff, ANPs and the domestics achieved 100% performance (Table 1). This is obviously because of their dress code. While it was about the alcohol hand rub use, 37% of the consultants used hand rubs before and 33% both before and after. The ANPs achieved the highest performance, 70% of them used alcohol hand rub before and after each patient contact (Figure 1).
4. Discussion
Hand hygiene is now regarded as one of the most important element of infection control activities. In 2010, in England, infectious diseases accounted for 7% of all deaths, 4% of all potential years of life lost (to age 75) and were also the primary cause of admission for 8% of all hospital bed days, and they are responsible for a large proportion of sickness absence from work. In most healthcare institutions,
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Table 1. Showing the findings indifferent employees about the infection control strategies.
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Figure 1. Showing performance of different level of employees in infection control strategies.
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Table 2. Factors influencing infection control strategies.
adherence to recommended hand-washing practices remains unacceptably low, rarely exceeding 40 percent of situations in which hand hygiene is indicated [3] [4] . Hand hygiene reflects attitudes, behaviours and beliefs. Some of the observed/self-reported factors found to be affecting hand hygiene behaviours are enlisted in Table 2 [2] [5] - [10] . In our study, these factors also became more evident. The basic hand hygiene behaviours were observed in different level of staff over 2 weeks. Only 37% of the consultants were found bare bellow elbow while nursing staff, ANPs and the domestics achieved 100% performance. While it was about the alcohol hand rub use, 37% of the consultants used hand rubs before and 33% both before and after. The ANPs achieved the highest performance, 70% of them used alcohol hand rub before and after each patient contact.
5. Conclusion
One of the reasons that microbes have survived in nature is probably their simplicity: a simple genomic framework with genetic encryption of basic survival strategies. To tackle these microbes, human beings will have to follow basic and simple protocols of infection prevention. From this study, it is evident that the standard was partially met. The healthcare practitioners need to brace themselves to inoculate the simple, basic and effective practice of hand hygiene in their daily patient care activities.