CDC Urges Use of Alcohol-Based Hand Rubs by Healthcare Workers

[Guest guest]

Hi,

we have discussed this subject intensively already, but if you are

still looking for a scientific article to persuade your clinic to

switch to Alcohol-Based Hand Rubs, here it is.

Peace

Torsten, dad of Fiona 5wcf

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/443629

CDC Urges Use of Alcohol-Based Hand Rubs by Healthcare Workers

CHICAGO (Reuters Health) Oct 25 - The Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention is recommending the use of alcohol-based hand rubs by

healthcare workers and caretakers, according to new guidelines.

The Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) estimates that

hospital

acquired infections kill 20,000 patients a year in the US. " There's a

growing need to take actions within the healthcare system that promote

patient safety and protect patients, and we know that hand hygiene is

a

critical part of good healthcare, " said CDC director Dr.

Gerberding.

Speaking at a Friday news conference at the annual meeting of the

IDSA,

Dr. Gerberding said a number of studies show that the availability of

alcohol-based hand rubs increases hygiene, primarily by making hand

cleansing more convenient.

" This is not to be interpreted that alcohol preps alone are the

important issue, " said Dr. Gerberding. " What we're advocating is a

comprehensive approach to hand hygiene. Certainly if the hands of

healthcare workers are soiled, they need to wash with soap and water,

and gloves are still recommended for situations where people have

contact with blood or other body fluids or when they're conducting

sterile procedures. The addition of alcohol preps is an expansion of

hygiene, not a substitution for practices that we've known for a long

time are important. "

Dr. M. Boyce, professor of medicine at Yale University, said at

least 20 studies have shown that in addition to being fast and

convenient, alcohol-based products are more effective than soap at

removing bacteria from the hands.

Dr. Elaine Larson of the Columbia University School of Public Health

in

New York City emphasized that many hospitals have already adopted the

use of alcohol-based hand cleansers. She added that the previous

guidelines for hand hygiene often yielded to the realities of busy

emergency departments and intensive care units where it can be

difficult

to stop and wash with soap and water every few minutes.

" What's advantageous about these new guidelines is that it will be

possible, in emergency and high-risk situations to not have to line up

at a sink and make a choice between doing hand hygiene and doing a

high-risk procedure, " said Dr. Larson.

Dr. Gerberding said the voluntary guidelines, published in the October

25, 2002 CDC publication Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, and

which do not cover surgery, should now be the " de facto standard of

care. "

The most immediate impact of the guidelines will be in intensive care

units and regular hospital ward practice, said Dr. Schaffner,

Chairman of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Vanderbilt

University in Nashville.

" Today, hospitals are full of very, very sick patients and are

(virtually) quasi-intensive care units, so implementing these

guidelines

in the wards and ICU's ought to have a substantial impact " on

healthcare

acquired infections, said Dr. Schaffner.