A Before-and-After Study on Hand Hygiene Knowledge, Practices, and Environmental Cleanliness in an Anaesthesia Department Following Educational and Protocol Interventions.

BACKGROUND

Hand hygiene is a key measure to prevent healthcare-associated infections, yet compliance remains low among anaesthesia staff. This study evaluated the impact of hand hygiene education and standardised cleaning protocols on knowledge, behaviour and bacterial contamination in an anaesthesia department.

METHODS

A before-and-after study was conducted over 10 months in a medical centre in northern Taiwan. Interventions included hand hygiene training, alcohol-based hand rubs and cleaning with disinfectant wipes. Pre-intervention and postintervention assessments included knowledge questionnaires, hand cultures, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence and environmental agar cultures.

RESULTS

Following the intervention, significant improvements were observed in hand hygiene knowledge, particularly in areas such as the types of micro-organisms effectively eliminated by alcohol-based hand rub, and the recommended duration for effective hand hygiene using both alcohol rub and soap and water (P < 0.01). The number of hands with negative bacterial growth from hand cultures increased from 1 before intervention to 9 post intervention. Frequently isolated organisms included Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNSs) and Gram-positive bacilli. ATP bioluminescence testing demonstrated significant reductions in contamination levels on multiple surfaces, including monitoring devices, the anaesthesia machine, work cart surfaces, computers, the Bair Hugger control panel and hands (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Educational and environmental interventions can enhance hand hygiene compliance and reduce microbial contamination, supporting infection control in anaesthetic practice.