Improving hand hygiene in the anesthesia workspace: The importance, opportunities, and obstacles (1 October 2024)

Summary

Anaesthesia professionals have consistently been leaders in patient safety and have long recognised the importance of hand hygiene in the anaesthesia workspace.

Hand contamination is associated with pathogen transmission across multiple anaesthesia workspace reservoirs, and genome analysis of bacteria cultured from provider hands and infection causing pathogens have confirmed that providers transmit pathogens that result in patient infections.

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) transmission among anaesthesia workspace reservoirs is associated with an increased risk of surgical site infection (SSI). In order to reduce this risk, a multifaceted approach is indicated to prevent SSIs. When improved hand hygiene is incorporated as part of a multifaceted programme, substantial reductions in S. aureus transmission and SSIs can be achieved.

These findings should provide the impetus for widespread improvements in hand hygiene compliance for all intraoperative personnel, with anaesthesia professionals taking the lead.