Volume 7, Number 2—April 2001
THEME ISSUE
4th Decennial International Conference on Nosocomial and Healthcare-Associated Infections
Prevention is Primary
Improving Adherence to Hand Hygiene Practice: A Multidisciplinary Approach
Didier Pittet
Table 2
Improved adherence with hand hygiene practice compared with hospital infection rates
| Year | Authors | Hospital setting | Results | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Casewell and Philips | Adult ICU | Reduction in HIa due to endemic Klebsiella spp | 58 |
| 1982 | Maki and Hecht | Adult ICU | Reduction in HI rates | 59 |
| 1984 | Massanari and Heirholzer | Adult ICU | Reduction in NI rates | 60 |
| 1990 | Simmons et al. | Adult ICU | No effect | 22 |
| 1992 | Doebbeling et al. | Adult ICU | Significant difference in rates of HI between two different hand hygiene agents | 7 |
| 1994 | Webster et al. | NICU | Elimination of MRSA | 61 |
| 1995 | Zafar et al. | Newborn nursery | Elimination of MRSA | 62 |
| 1999 | Pittet et al. | Hospital-wide | Significant reduction in HI and MRSA cross-transmission rates | 63 |
aHI = hospital infection; ICU = intensive care unit; NICU = neonatal ICU; MRSA = methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
