Reduction Of Hospital Acquired Infections Hand Hygiene Among Nursing Students In Zambia PDF Download

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are one of the most life-threatening and hard to treat infections, about 90,000 of clients die each year. Corresponding to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the prevalence of HAI results in an increase in morbidity, mortality, and rise in health care cost. It is assessed that billions of dollars are expended for management of HAIs, which enforces a significant problem on nation's health system (CDC, 2009). HAIs are also increasing significantly and in acute care settings it is the fifth leading cause of death (Seo, 2011). In United States it is estimated that 722,000 hospitalized patients get infections every year, that's about 1 in every 25 patients. For the prevention and reducing the transmission of HAIs hand washing is the best effective and budget friendly measure (CDC, 2014). Regardless of evidence of benefit, among HCWs hand washing agreement remains low. To promote hand washing agreement and to reduce the prevalence of HAI a multidisciplinary approach is necessary. According to Knoll and others (2010) knowledge, education and motivation can encourage hand hygiene compliance. To prevent HAIs among hospitalized patients implementing an evidence-based hand hygiene compliance program to improve and promote hand hygiene practice is important. Disseminating the results of the compliance program on targeted audience would communicate the data about the program, which will help to improve practice and to maximize the outcome. Application of monitoring tool and competency check list will evaluate the HCWs knowledge, compliance and the effectiveness of the program. Compliance with recommended hand hygiene guidelines decreases spread of infection and reduces the prevalence of HAIs which in turn will lessens, morbidity, mortality and health care budget.