The Utility of Hand Hygiene Before Non-sterile Glove Use
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Enrollment
- 230
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Difference in Total Aerobic Colony Counts
Study Overview
Brief Summary
The importance of healthcare worker hand hygiene in decreasing bacterial transmission between patients is well documented. Healthcare workers may don non-sterile gloves in routine care of patients, particularly for those patients known or suspected to harbor epidemiologically important microorganisms. Governing bodies currently recommend performing hand hygiene prior to donning gloves and after glove removal. The importance of hand hygiene post glove removal is well shown, however few studies exist to show utility of hand hygiene prior to donning gloves. In fact, data suggests that glove use is an impediment to hand hygiene and may reduce compliance with hand washing. In light of this and the fact that no evidence exists that washing hands BEFORE glove use is important, the aim of the study is to asses the utility of routine hand hygiene prior to donning non-sterile gloves before a patient contact.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Single Group
- Primary Purpose
- Prevention
- Masking
- Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to — (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Healthcare worker engaging in direct patient contact on Contact Precautions (e.g. expected glove use)
- •>= 18 years of age
Exclusion Criteria
- •Visibly soiled hands requiring hand washing (cannot randomize)
- •Non-compliance with glove use as indicated for care of patient on Contact Precautions
Arms & Interventions
Donning Gloves without Hand Hygiene
In this arm, healthcare workers will be assigned to don non-sterile gloves prior to patient contact WITHOUT first performing hand hygiene. Samples will be obtained from hands prior to donning gloves and from the gloves after donning to determine total aerobic colony counts and to identify important hospital pathogens
Intervention: Hand Hygiene before Donning Non-sterile Gloves (Behavioral)
Hand Hygiene before donning Non-Sterile Gloves
In this arm, healthcare workers will be assigned to first perform hand hygiene before donning non-sterile gloves prior to patient contact (This is usual,expected practice). Samples will be obtained from hands prior to donning gloves and from the gloves after donning to determine total aerobic colony counts and to identify important hospital pathogens
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Difference in Total Aerobic Colony Counts
Time Frame: The total time of participation from the healthcare worker will be approximately 2-3 minutes, the time needed to perform hand hygiene and don gloves (group 1) or don gloves (group 2).
The Difference in Total Aerobic Colony Counts from hands at baseline (Group 1, prior to Hand Hygiene; Group 2, prior to donning gloves) to gloves after donning
Secondary Outcomes
- Pathogen Identification(The total time of participation from the healthcare worker will be approximately 2-3 minutes, the time needed to perform hand hygiene and don gloves (group 1) or don gloves (group 2).)
Investigators
Kerri A Thom
Assistant Professor
University of Maryland, Baltimore