[Evaluation of a hand hygiene technique in healthcare workers]

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the quality of hand hygiene in healthcare workers and the influence of wearing jewellery.

Methods: A sample of 293 healthcare professionals of different categories and on different shifts was studied. Hand hygiene was evaluated by a fluorescent agent that allowed us to determine the areas of the hand that had been in contact with the solution. Each hand was divided into 6 zones to quantify the quality of hygiene, the maximum score was 12 points. The wearing of jewellery was quantified.

Results: The mean score obtained was 8.3 (SD 2.0) out of 12 points. At least one untreated area of the hand was found in 95.2% of subjects. The results in fingers, thumbs and wrists were significantly lower than those obtained in other areas of the hand (p<.001), being dirty in over 50% of the participants. A dirty wrist was observed in 90% of those who wore a watch and in 92.7% of those wearing a bracelet,and the 84.3% of subjects who wore a ring had dirty fingers.

Conclusions: Healthcare workers did not apply the technique of hand hygiene effectively. Areas where the alcoholic solution did not act as often were: thumbs, fingers and wrist. The use of watches, bracelets and rings prevent good hygiene.