Volume : 4, Issue : 4, April - 2015

Is Hand Hygiene Given Appropriate Importance in Tertiary Care Centres?

Dr. P. A. Archanalakshmi, Dr. A. Meriton Stanly, Dr. Christina Mary Paul, Mrs. H. Gladius Jennifer

Abstract :

<p>&nbsp;Is hand hygiene given appropriate importance in tertiay care centres?</p> <div>Introduction : Hand hygiene is a major component of standard precaution and one of the most effective methods to&nbsp;</div> <div>prevent transmission of pathogens associated with health care.1 Transmission of microorganisms from the hands of health care workers is the&nbsp;</div> <div>main cause of nosocomial infections. It is pertinent to know the practice of hand hygiene among health care providers and reasons for non&nbsp;</div> <div>adoption so that the problems can be overcome in future.&nbsp;</div> <div>Objectives&nbsp;</div> <div>1. To assess the adoption of Appropriate hand hygiene practices among health care providers at tertiary levels of health care.</div> <div>2. To find out the reasons for non&ndash;adoption.</div> <div>Methodology : A cross sectional study was done to assess the adoption of appropriate hand hygiene among health care providers (Doctors,&nbsp;</div> <div>nurses, lab technicians) in a government and private tertiary hospital. The total subjects included in the study were 950. The data was analysed&nbsp;</div> <div>by SPSS&ndash;16. Proportion &amp; chi square test was used to assess the statistical significance at 5% &alpha;.</div> <div>Results : The number of subjects included for the study in private tertiary care centre were 439(46.2%), and in Government tertiary care centre&nbsp;</div> <div>were 511(53.8%) with a total of 950 health care providers.&nbsp;</div>