Handwashing is the most important and least expensive measure for preventing the transmission of hospital-acquired infection. Compliance, however, rarely exceeds 40%, even in intensive care units. The present study evaluated the effectiveness of the authors' infection control programme in relation to handwashing compliance of healthcare workers. Ten nursing students observed 300 uninformed staff members and recorded their handwashing practices throughout the working day. The observations were categorized by profession, gender, age, hospital unit and type of delivered care. In 1035 opportunities that required handwashing, the overall compliance was 76%. Healthcare workers washed hands before (68%) and after patient care (80%). Females complied more than males (69 vs. 80%, P<0.0001) and nurses more than physicians (81 vs. 69%, P<0.001). In intensive care units, overall compliance exceeded 97%, while in other wards and in the emergency departments, it approximated 61%. More handwashing was observed during the evening shift compared with the morning shift (P=0.02). Despite the high compliance, only 30% washed their hands for the required 10-20s. In conclusion, compliance with handwashing in the authors' institution is the highest reported to date, and reflects the intensive and incessant educational infection control programme.
Copyright 2001 The Hospital Infection Society.