Hand hygiene status and influencing factors of health care workers in municipal hospitals in Chongqing City

Abstract:

ObjectiveTo investigate hand hygiene(HH) status among health care workers(HCWs) in municipal hospitals in Chongqing City, and provide the basis for making effective HH management strategies. MethodsIn AprilJune 2016, HH status among 111 HCWs in 24 municipal hospitals of this city were investigated through questionnaire survey, onsite observation, and hand surface sampling.ResultsAll surveyed departments are installed special hand washing facilities, all surveyed HCWs were performed HH through handwashing by running water. The proportion of HCWs’ handwashing by disinfectant was higher than sixstep hand washing (73.87% ［n=82］ vs 37.84%［n=42］, χ2=29.23, P＜0.01）；the implementation rate of HH before touching patient was higher than that after touching patients ( 99.10%［n=110］ vs 89.19%［n=99］, χ2= 9.88, P＜0.01）. During the process of diagnosis and treatment activities, the maximal total number of bacteria on the surface of hand before and after HH were 475 CFU/cm2 and 85 CFU/cm2 respectively, hand surface colony count after HH was higher than before HH（P＜0.01）.  Age, gender, department, and occupation are important factors influencing HH. The total number of bacteria on hand surface of nurses was higher than nonnurse HCWs, the total number of bacteria on hand surface of female, nurses, and HCWs in class I environment were all higher than male, nonnurse HCWs and HCWs in other types of environment, there were significant difference among the groups （all P＜0.05）. Qualified rates of HH of each group improved after hand washing, the total number of bacterial colony on hands of HCWs all decreased. ConclusionHand washing facilities and HH efficacy are good in Chongqing municipal hospitals, however，HH compliance needs to be improved among HCWs aged≥35 years，male HCWs， HCWs in class III and IV environmental departments, as well as nonnurse HCWs.