Humberto Guanche Garcell - Hospital Epidemiology Department, Hospital Joaquín Albarrán, La Habana, Cuba
Luis Gonzalez Alvarez - Hospital Epidemiology Department, Hospital Joaquín Albarrán, La Habana, Cuba
Anayka González Valdés - Hospital Epidemiology Department, Hospital Joaquín Albarrán, La Habana, Cuba
Katerine Cardenas Goulet - Hospital Epidemiology Department, Hospital Joaquín Albarrán, La Habana, Cuba
Gloria Fresneda Septiem - Hospital Epidemiology Department, Hospital Joaquín Albarrán, La Habana, Cuba
Francisco Gutierrez García - Hospital Epidemiology Department, Hospital Joaquín Albarrán, La Habana, Cuba

Background: Hand hygiene plays a key role in the prevention of healthcare-associated infection in critical patients. Objective: The current study aimed to evaluate compliance with hand hygiene practices. Methods: An observational and descriptive study was carried out in a ۳۵-bed medical-surgical critical care unit in La Habana (Cuba) from January ۲۰۱۷ to December ۲۰۱۸. The observational method recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) was used. Results: Overall compliance was ۳۴.۲% (۵۵۱۶/۱۶ ۱۲۵), with better compliance among physicians (۳۹%) compared with nurses (۳۱.۴%) and ancillary staff (۱۹.۵%). Better compliance was observed after patient contact (۶۵.۷%) and after contact with patients’ surroundings (۴۲.۰%) in comparison with greater focus on patient safety as before patient contact (۲۳.۳%) and before an aseptic task (۱۱.۴%). Hand washing was performed more frequently than hand rubs. Conclusion: Compliance with hand hygiene practices is low and no improvement in compliance was observed during the study period. This practice is related to the high risk of transmission of healthcare-related infections in critical patients and requires quality improvement interventions.

Hand hygiene, compliance, Critical care unit, Medical-Surgical, La Habana