PhD Scientific Days 2021

HE_I_L: Health Sciences I. Lectures

Developing Evidence-based Hygiene by a Utilising Digital Health System

Text of the abstract

Introduction:
Hand hygiene is the paramount in preventing community- and hospital-associated infections. The COVID-19 pandemic has proven that efficient hand hygiene is not only beneficial but necessary and essential. Since the days of Ignaz Semmelweis hand hygiene protocols have been re-examined, modified, and updated. In this regard, even current World Health Organization protocols do not specify or indicate application difference according to hand size or handrub format which may have huge implications on disinfectant hand coverage and hand hygiene efficiency.

Aims:
The aim of this study was to examine the influence of handrub volume, hand size, handrub formulation and even dermatological parameters have on hand hygiene efficiency.

Methods:
Medical students voluntarily were involved in this study. During their practice, their hand hygiene performance was recorded using the Semmelweis System, an automated hand hygiene technique monitoring device. The Semmelweis Scanner employs digital imaging and AI-based image processing to objectively determine which areas of the hand were properly covered by ABHR. Three types of formulation were examined (gel, foam and liquid). In addition, hand rubbing times and hand temperatures were also assessed.

Results:
The 1.5 ml ABHR volumes are inadequate as in all formulations the non-covered areas exceed the 5 % of the total hand surface area. Application time was above the WHO’s prescribed 20 – 30 seconds, regardless of formulation even at 1.5 ml volumes. Preliminary results suggest that hand temperature is correlated to hand rubbing time. Comparing the three formulation gel performed the best while foam was the worst with passing grades (at least 98% of the hand surface is covered) of 75 and 60 % respectively.

Conclusions:
Personalized, hand size-based ABHR volumes would optimise efficiency and minimise wastes. That optimized volumes could be different according to which formulation is used.

Funding:
The study was supported by the ÚNKP-20-3-II-SE-29 and the EFOP-3.6.3-VEKOP-16-2017-00009 Medical, health sciences and pharmaceutical scientific workshops development

University and Doctoral School

Semmelweis University, Doctoral School of Theoretical and Translational Medicine