EVALUATION OF HAND HYGIENE TRAINING AND ITS EFFECT ON MDR BACTERIA DETECTION IN VARIOUS INTENSIVE CARE UNITS OF ERA’S LUCKNOW MEDICAL COLLEGE

Hand hygiene is nowadays considered as one of the most important measures to prevent transmission and acquisition of HCAIs (health care associated infections). Monitoring hand hygiene compliance and providing healthcare workers with feedback regarding their performance are considered integral parts of a successful hand hygiene promotion programme. A total of 50 ICU staffs(resident doctors, faculty & nurses e.t.c.) were included in this interventional study. Baseline data of hand hygiene practices of all staffs and pre-intervention hand culture were obtained. Post intervention hand culture were taken after 30 days of training and interactive sessions as well as continous availability of ABHR in the ICU. Results of post-intervention hand culture showed a marked decrease in isolation of bacteria specially those of MRSAand ESBL. MRSAwas low by 35% and in non of the cases ESBL was reported. In all the ICUs frequency of hand hygiene was poor(average 31%) but improved significantly after intervention (70%).Introduction of ABHR was found to be an effective tool for improving hand hygiene. As a result of periodic training, monitoring, surveillance hand cultures and awareness generating campaign, transmission of resistant bacteria can be reduced, thus reducing the burden of nosocomial infection in a hospital set-up.