Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) are a major global health challenge, but hand hygiene is proven to significantly reduce their spread. Between 2000–2009, 30 European countries were surveyed on national/regional hand hygiene campaigns as part of the WHO’s Clean Care is Safer Care initiative. Thirteen countries had national campaigns (e.g., Belgium’s You Are in Good Hands with 90% hospital participation, France’s Mission Clean Hands with multimedia resources, and the UK’s cleanyourhands campaign involving patient engagement). Three additional countries planned campaigns, while 10 relied on regional efforts. Key strategies included multimodal approaches: training, ABHR accessibility, audits, and public awareness. Successes included tripled ABHR sales in Norway and improved compliance in Spain. However, data on HCAI reduction were sparse, and evaluation methods varied, complicating cross-country comparisons. The report underscores the need for standardized metrics and sustained investment to align with global patient safety goals.
Author(s): Magiorakos, A P; Suetens, C; Boyd, L; Costa, C; Cunney, R; Drouvot, V; Farrugia, C; Fernandez-Maillo, M M; Iversen, B G; Leens, E; Michael, S; Moro, M L; Reinhardt, C; Serban, R; Vatcheva-Dobrevska, R; Wilson, K; Heisbourg, E; Maltezou, H C; Strauss, R; Böröcz, K; Dolinšek, M; Dumpis, U; Erne, S; Gudlaugsson, O; Heczko, P; Hedlova, D; Holt, J; Jõe, L; Lyytikäinen, O; Riesenfeld-Örn, I; Stefkovikova, M; Valinteliene, R; Voss, A; Monnet, D L
Published: 2009
Language: English
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Additional Information
Hand hygiene represents the single most effective way to prevent healthcare-associated infections. The World Health Organization, as part of its First Global Patient Safety Challenge, recommends implementation of multi-faceted strategies to increase compliance with hand hygiene. A questionnaire was sent by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control to 30 European countries, regarding the availability and organisation of their national hand hygiene campaigns. All countries responded. Thirteen countries had organised at least one national campaign during the period 2000-2009 and three countries were in the process of organising a national campaign. Although the remaining countries did not have a national campaign, several reported regional and local hand hygiene activities or educational resources on national websites.