Southwest Florida hospitals increase hand-hygiene compliance

The rate of hand-hygiene compliance at the Lee Memorial Health System averages 91 percent — up from 70 percent in 2012, according to an article on the News-Press website.

Hospital officials credit the turnaround to training, surveillance and hand- sanitizer stations in needed areas.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends healthcare workers wash their hands before and after coming into contact with patients, after contact with surfaces or bodily fluids, before performing invasive procedures and after removing protective gloves.

But experts say it's common for hospital workers to forget to wash every single time, especially if they are busy and sanitizer is hard to find during emergencies, the article said.

Part of the challenge is changing the culture of healthcare settings. Ideally, it should be one in which a member of the cleaning staff has no problem challenging experienced medical staffers when they aren't following hygiene rules. but that's not always the case, the article said.

Read the article.