OPERATING ROOM HAND HYGIENE PRACTICES: ARE PATIENTS REALLY SAFE? AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Health care providers (HCP) who work in the operating room (OR) or post anesthesia care
unit (PACU) have a greater opportunity to cross contaminate patients because of high workloads and
frequent patient contact events. The current prevalence of health care-associated infections (HCAI) is a
major health concern and patient contact in the OR and PACU can be a contributing factor due to microbial
contamination. Methods: An observational study was conducted on the hand hygiene (HH) compliance of
HCP working in the OR and PACU of a tertiary health-care facility in Saudi Arabia. The participants in the
study comprised of surgeons, anesthetists, and circulating and PACU nurses. The observations and data
collection were performed by two OR and PACU clinical resource nurses, who had been trained by the
infection control and prevention department. Results: The study included 2300 opportunities for HH
compliance and observed 200 nurses, 100 surgeons and 100 anesthetists. HH compliance in the OR and
PACU was highest among nurses;> 90% and lowest among physicians, surgeons< 70%; followed by
anesthetists< 50%. Conclusion: Adherence to HH guidelines by OR and PACU nurses was acceptably
higher than anesthetists and surgeons.