Verbal hand-hygiene reminders In hospitals may curb infections

Voice-based electronic monitoring systems showed a 61.4 percent decrease in HAIs


Research on a voice-based electronic hand hygiene monitoring systems showed a 61.4 percent decrease in healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs), across 10 hospitals, according to an article on the Healio website. The findings were reported at a recent conference for the Association for Professionals in Infection Control Epidemiology.

The system includes an audible reminder in the form of a human voice that reminds healthcare facility staff to sanitize their hands. Bluetooth technology in a badge worn by the healthcare workers communicates with IoT sensors affixed to soap and sanitizer dispensers in patient care areas. 

When the staffer walks into or out of a patient’s room, the IoT sensors detect that. Th worker has a certain number of seconds to dispense sanitizer or soap. If they don’t,  a "Real-Time Voice Reminder" is triggered. The standard reminder is an audio file of a female voice that says, “Please sanitize.” 

In rooms where a patient has C. difficile, the voice changes to “soap and water only” upon the staffer's exit, since sanitizer does not kill C. diff. spores. 

Read the article.


July 2, 2019


Topic Area: Infection Control


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