An intervention to reduce health care personnel hand contamination during care of patients with Clostridium difficile infection

SHEA/IDSA/APIC Practice Recommendation: Strategies to prevent healthcare-associated infections through hand hygiene: 2022 Update

The purpose of this document is to highlight practical recommendations to assist acute-care hospitals in prioritization and implementation of strategies to prevent healthcare-associated infections through hand hygiene. This document updates the Strategies to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections in Acute Care Hospitals through Hand Hygiene, published in 2014. This expert guidance document is sponsored by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology (SHEA). It is the product of a collaborative effort led by SHEA, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, the American Hospital Association, and The Joint Commission, with major contributions from representatives of a number of organizations and societies with content expertise.

Contamination of health care personnel during removal of contaminated gloves

In simulations of contaminated glove removal, 37% of health care personnel using their typical doffing technique contaminated their skin with a fluorescent solution. The frequency of contamination was significantly lower when the technique recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was used versus not used (8 of 34, 24% vs 29 of 66, 44%). In simulations in which only the palm of the glove was contaminated, a modified doffing technique, to minimize the risk for contact with contaminated surfaces, reduced contamination of personnel.

How often are health care personnel hands colonized with multidrug- resistant organisms? A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Hands of health care personnel (HCP) can transmit multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), resulting in infections. Our aim was to determine MDRO prevalence on HCP hands in adult acute care and nursing facility settings.

METHODS

A systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, CINAHL, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL was performed. Studies were included if they reported microbiologic culture results following HCP hands sampling; included prevalent MDROs, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, Clostridium difficile, Acinetobacter baumannii, or Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and were conducted in acute care or nursing facility settings.

RESULTS

Fifty-nine articles comprising 6,840 hand cultures were included. Pooled prevalence for MRSA, P aeruginosa, A baumannii, and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus were 4.26%, 4.59%, 6.18%, and 9.03%, respectively. Substantial heterogeneity in rates of pathogen isolation were observed across studies (I² = 81%-95%). Only 4 of 59 studies sampled for C difficile, with 2 of 4 finding no growth. Subgroup analysis of MRSA revealed the highest HCP hand contamination rates in North America (8.28%). Sample collection methods used were comparable for MRSA isolation (4%-7%) except for agar direct contact (1.55%).

CONCLUSIONS

Prevalence of common MDROs on HCP hands vary by pathogen, care setting, culture acquisition method, study design, and geography. When obtained at an institutional level, these prevalence data can be utilized to enhance knowledge, practice, and research to prevent health care-associated infections.

A Randomized Trial of Two Cover Gowns Comparing Contamination of Healthcare Personnel During Removal of Personal Protective Equipment

In a randomized trial, a gown designed to allow easy removal at the neck and with increased skin coverage and snugness of fit at the wrist significantly reduced contamination of personnel during personal protective equipment (PPE) removal. Our results suggest that simple modifications of PPE can reduce contamination of personnel. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2018;39:97-100.

Primary prevention of Clostridium difficile infections - how difficult can it be?

C. difficile infections (CDI) have been a challenging disease to treat, much less to prevent, for decades. Efforts for primary prevention have mainly focused on improving infection control practices, but CDI outbreaks continue to plague healthcare facilities. Areas covered: A literature search from 1970-December 2016 found 13 facility-level and 2 patient-level strategies that were evidence-based. The aim of this manuscript is to assess the current state of the literature on primary prevention of CDI and offer insights into which strategies may be more effective. Expert commentary: The strongest evidence for primary prevention is based on multi-faceted infection control bundles, while there is promising moderate evidence involving facility-wide use of specific probiotics. Moderate-level evidence was found for patient-level use of specific probiotics and low level evidence for vaccines. Future suggestions include use of consistent outcome metrics, measurements of implementation compliance and program sustainability.

Clostridium difficile contamination of health care workers' hands and its potential contribution to the spread of infection: Review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) can be transmitted from patient to patient by the hands of health care workers (HCWs); however, the relative importance of this route in the spread of C difficile in the hospital is currently unknown. Our aim was to review studies examining HCWs' hand carriage and its potential role in CDI transmission.

METHODS

First, English-speaking references addressing HCWs' hand sampling obtained from the PubMed database were reviewed. Second, C difficile outbreaks definitely or probably implicating HCWs were retrieved from the Outbreak Database Web site (www.outbreak-database.com). Finally, cases of C difficile occurring in HCWs after contact with an infected patient were retrieved from PubMed.

RESULTS

A total of 11 studies dealing with HCWs' hand carriage were selected and reviewed. Between 0% and 59% of HCWs' hands were found contaminated with C difficile after caring for a patient with CDI. There were several differences between studies regarding site of hands sampling, timing after contact, and bacteriologic methods. Only 2 C difficile outbreaks implicating HCWs and 6 series of cases of transmission from patients to HCWs have been reported.

CONCLUSIONS

This review shows that HCWs' hands could play an important role in the transmission of C difficile. Hand hygiene and reduction of environmental contamination are essential to control C difficile transmission.