Assessment of Hand Washing Techniques in the Emergency Room, through Observation and Survey, as a Determinant of the High Nosocomial Infection Rate at the Luis Vernaza General Hospital in Guayaquil, Ecuador

Authors

Susan Hardy, Brigham Young University
Dr. Sheri Palmer, Brigham Young University

Keywords

hand washing techniques, emergency room, infection rate, Ecuador

College

Nursing

Abstract

Hospital acquired infections, or nosocomial infections, have been recognized by experts such as Semmelweiss, Holmes, Nightingale, and Lister as a critical problem world wide for over 150 years. These infections greatly affect the quality of patient care provided in the hospitals. A hospital acquired infection is defined as an infection for which there is no presence of at the time of admission (Creedon, 2005). These infections are one of the leading causes of morbidity, mortality and prolonged hospital stays; resulting in extra costs to patients and health services (Panhotra, 2005). Transmission of microorganisms via the hands of health care workers is recognized as the main route of spread. Current research studies confirm that at least one-third of all hospital infections are preventable through proper hand hygiene (Creedon). Hand hygiene is the simplest and most efficient action in preventing hospital acquired infections; yet the adherence of health care workers (HCW) to the recommended guidelines is poor.

Recommended Citation

Hardy, Susan and Palmer, Dr. Sheri (2013) "Assessment of Hand Washing Techniques in the Emergency Room, through Observation and Survey, as a Determinant of the High Nosocomial Infection Rate at the Luis Vernaza General Hospital in Guayaquil, Ecuador," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013: Iss. 1, Article 1623.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/1623