Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/246400
Infection Control Study: Financial Incentives Boost Hand Hygiene Compliance By Ellie Rizzo F inancial incentives in the context of a shared accountability model are effective in improving rates of hand hygiene compliance, according to an article published in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology. Researchers at an academic medical center implemented a system of project planning, leadership buy-in, goal setting, financial incentives tied to performance and a system-wide shared accountability model. Hand hygiene observations showed an increase in hand hygiene compliance to more than 85 percent since January 2011. 9 Study: MRSA Screening Lacks Evidence By Ellie Rizzo W hile screening for methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus may be the method of choice for some hospitals, the efficacy of the practice remains in question, according to a study in the American Journal of Infection Control. Researchers searched the literature for studies on universal screening for MRSA prevention. While they were able to identify many studies testing the procedure, poor study design and heterogeneous data made performing a meta-analysis of various studies' findings impossible. This lead the scientists to conclude MRSA screening data is currently insufficient to determine the effectiveness of universal screening in reducing rates of MRSA infection in hospitals. n Extrapolation of a model utilizing financial incentives in a culture of accountability may create similar results at other medical centers, the study concluded. n 11 Barriers to Hand Hygiene Compliance By Sabrina Rodak T ime pressure is one of the biggest reported barriers to hand hygiene compliance among healthcare workers, according to a study in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology. I hurry/emergent patient conditions I don't see any dirt/ I think it's not dirty Of 123 healthcare workers in a Thai hospital, compliance with the World Health Organization's "five moments" of hand hygiene was 23.2 percent by direct observation and 82.4 percent by self report. In a survey, the participants identified 11 barriers to compliance: I forget I'm busy/too many patients • I hurry/emergent patient conditions — 45.5 percent • I don't see any dirt/I think it's not dirty — 24.4 percent It is inconvenient • I forget — 19.5 percent I don't care • I'm busy/too many patients — 15.4 percent I'm lazy • It is inconvenient — 13.8 percent • I don't care — 8.1 percent I wear gloves/no direct contact with patients • I'm lazy — 5.7 percent There are adverse effects of soap/cleanser • I wear gloves/no direct contact with patients — 4.9 percent It wastes time • There are adverse effects of soap/cleanser — 4.9 percent My hands are clean • It wastes time — 4.1 percent • My hands are clean — 2.4 percent These reasons may help guide future hand hygiene interventions, according to the study. n 0 10 20 30 40 50