Digital dispenser systems are considered a promising approach to sustainably improving hand hygiene in the healthcare sector. But how far along is this development today? What possibilities do modern systems already offer in everyday clinical practice—and where are the limitations? I discuss this with Dr. Andreas Glöckner.
Since 2017, Dr. Glöckner has been driving the company’s medical and scientific direction as Medical Director at OPHARDT Hygiene. Previously, he worked as an internist, infectious disease specialist, and intensive care physician, and has not only used digital dispenser systems in clinical settings but also studied them scientifically. I am pleased to speak with him personally in an interview about the current status.
Markus Theißen: Let’s start with a look back. Hand sanitizer dispensers that automatically collect their data and transmit it to hygiene software have been on the market since late 2011. How do you view the developments over the past 15 years?
Dr. Andreas Glöckner: I can say that the development has been and continues to be quite positive. As basic data, the smart dispensers still record the amount dispensed per hand hygiene event (HHE) along with a timestamp, and the dispenser’s location is also stored in the software. A lot has happened on the software side, but there have also been significant developments on the dispenser side. A wide range of tools is now available that ensures an accurate description and documentation of hand hygiene performance in near real time. In addition, there are efficient intervention options for improving hand hygiene, even without tying up personnel resources.
Markus Theißen: Where do you think we stand today? What can digital hand hygiene systems already achieve?
Dr. Andreas Glöckner: In addition to recording basic data, modern smart dispensers can detect when a bottle needs to be replaced and determine the fill level—both of which are prerequisites for an alarm system that alerts users to nearly empty bottles, thereby ensuring timely bottle replacement. This also provides detailed information on dispenser downtime, which can naturally be used to implement quality assurance measures. Additional alarms warn of low battery power or an interrupted connection to the data server. The SmartNose from Ophardt also features a feedback LED on the dispenser that signals to the user when the required amount of disinfectant per hand sanitization has been reached by lighting up green. This feedback, which requires no human intervention, is thus an automated feature that has proven effective in both research settings and real-world practice and has led to dispensing volumes approaching the target value. Another useful feature is the ability to generate and send automated reports containing all relevant data to any recipient at freely selectable intervals.
Markus Theißen: In addition to the progress, we’re also interested in the other side: Where are current systems still reaching their limits?
Dr. Andreas Glöckner: For purely technical reasons and due to cost considerations, automatic recording of hand hygiene indications—and thus system-based calculation of hand hygiene compliance—has not yet been fully implemented. However, with the provision of occupancy data (patient days)—most effectively via an interface—the data currently available within the system is sufficient to describe the level and trends in hand hygiene in a timely manner and, if necessary, to intervene in the event of a significant deterioration.
Hand Hygiene Monitoring Systems: Studies and Evidence
Markus Theißen: What about the evidence: What are the specific benefits of using digital dispenser systems?
Dr. Andreas Glöckner: We have to go back to basics; there is clear scientific evidence showing that improved hand hygiene is associated with a decrease in nosocomial infections. The extent of the reduction depends on the baseline situation regarding hand hygiene and the prevalence of nosocomial infections in the setting in question. Today, a smart hand hygiene monitoring system is capable of significantly and sustainably improving hand hygiene—and thereby reducing nosocomial infections—by collecting, processing, and displaying relevant data, coupled with various automated interventions. This primarily benefits patients by reducing hospital stays and decreasing the number of sepsis cases. The simple formula is: no infection means no sepsis, no failure of antimicrobial therapy, and ultimately no death from septic shock. The economic factor is also significant. Longer hospital stays caused by nosocomial infections generally result in financial losses for the hospital under the current payment system, the DRG (note: German based system).
Markus Theißen: Finally, let’s take a look to the future. In your view, will smart hygiene dispensers soon become the new standard in hospitals?
Dr. Andreas Glöckner: I am absolutely certain of it, as the benefits for patients and cost-effectiveness cannot be ignored indefinitely. At the latest when scientific data from controlled studies clearly substantiates these benefits, the relevant authorities will recommend these systems and mandate their use.
Markus Theißen: Thank you very much for the interview.
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