The renowned Erasmus University Medical Center investigated the influence of a visual feedback system on the rubbing time for hygienic hand disinfection in a neonatal ward. Touchless hand disinfectant dispensers from OPHARDT were central in this study.
Invasive procedures often lead to healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) with serious consequences in premature babies. One example is sepsis, which is a medical emergency and must be treated as quickly as possible. To prevent this emergency situation from occurring in the first place, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends adequate hand disinfection as part of patient treatment. Unfortunately, however, the rules for hand hygiene in clinics and hospitals are rarely followed [1].
In addition to frequency, the quantity of sanitizer and duration of hand disinfection also play an important role in hygienic hand disinfection. Researchers at the Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam took a closer look at the latter point in a scientific study carried out in a neonatology unit.
Feedback promotes rub-in time for hand disinfection
Ronald van Gils and his team have developed an innovative hand disinfection traffic light system for the incubators on the neonatal ward.
The concept includes a small monitor above the touch-free sanitizer dispensers that only shows a green light when the recommended rub-in time of 30 seconds for hygienic hand disinfection has been reached. The green light lets medical staff know that the correct hygiene procedure has minimized the risk of contamination for the newborn.
After the two-month study phase from August 2022 to October 2022, the researchers found that correct hygienic hand disinfection with a rubbing time of 30 seconds occurred at a 75-percent-rate among medical staff working on the incubators with the innovative traffic light system. In contrast, the control group achieved a hand hygiene compliance rate of just 36%.
Hand sanitizer dispensers from the ingo-man® brand from OPHARDT Hygiene were used. The touchless dispensers were linked to the traffic light system to enable a correct sequence from dispensing to the 30 seconds of hand disinfection.
Authors’ findings are in line with other studies on hand hygiene feedback
The scientists emphasize the importance of visual feedback for improving hand hygiene compliance in the healthcare sector. Previous studies have already proven the positive effect of feedback on hand disinfection. For example, Diefenbacher and colleagues showed that a visual display of hygiene behaviour on ward monitors leads to a sustainable improvement in hand hygiene [2].
With the ingo-man® SmartNose, there are also innovative solutions that show hand hygiene feedback directly on the disinfectant dispenser. As soon as the user has removed enough sanitizer for hygienic hand disinfection, a green LED in the form of a drop above the sanitizer dispenser indicates this.
Study:
van Gils, Ronald, et al. “Validation of a hand hygiene visual feedback system to improve compliance with drying time of alcohol-based handrub in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: The Incubator Traffic Light system.” Journal of Hospital Infection (2024).
Sources:
Erasmus, Vicki, et al. “Systematic review of studies on compliance with hand hygiene guidelines in hospital care.” Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology 31.3 (2010): 283-294.
Diefenbacher, S., Fliss, P. M., Tatzel, J., Wenk, J., & Keller, J. (2019). A quasi-randomized controlled before-after study using performance feedback and goal setting as elements of hand hygiene promotion. Journal of Hospital Infection.
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