Correspondence
An Ongoing Task
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Von Lengerke et al. (1) in their article discussed a problem that has partially been reported to us from other participants in the German „Clean Hands Campaign“ (Aktion Saubere Hände). Notably, in both study groups, compliance was generally improved compared with the baseline value before the start of the intervention, although in both groups, only half of the medical staff were immediately affected by the intervention measures.
The authors described the implementation of 29 tailored behavior change techniques in the intervention group compared with 15 in the control group. Some of those techniques, which were used in the intervention arm only, were actually explicitly recommended by the Clean Hands Campaign. For example, optimizing distribution of dispensers, using bottles that fit into the pockets of staff‘s coats, and correct hand hygiene when using examination gloves are central goals of the campaign to improve compliance with hand hygiene measures (2). Measures focusing on individual indications (for example, preceding aseptic activities) and optimizing workflows are explicitly supported by the campaign. It would certainly have been interesting to obtain a detailed insight into the behavior change techniques that exceeded established measures.
The Clean Hands Campaign agrees with the authors that measures to improve hand hygiene will have to be tailored to the needs of individual wards. For this reason, the campaign makes a multitude of materials available to participants, which can be used according to individual needs and requirements, but which should not be misunderstood as a „one size fits all“ approach. Strengthening compliance successfully requires continuous effort.
DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.2017.0328a
Dr. med. Tobias Kramer
Nationales Referenzzentrum für die Surveillance von nosokomialen Infektionen
Institut für Hygiene und Umweltmedizin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin
tobias.kramer@charite.de
Karin Bunte-Schönberger
Janine Walter
Prof. Dr. med. Petra Gastmeier
Conflict of interest statement
The authors have received financial funding for research projects („Clean Hands Campaign“) from B. Braun Melsungen, Bode Chemie, Chem. Fabrik Dr. Weigert, Dr. Schumacher, Ecolab Deutschland, Lysoform, Dr. Hans Rosemann, Ophardt Hygiene Technik, and Schülke & Mayr.
| 1. | von Lengerke T, Lutze B, Krauth C, Lange K, Stahmeyer JT, Chaberny IF: Promoting hand hygiene compliance: PSYGIENE—a cluster-randomized controlled trial of tailored interventions. Dtsch Arztebl Int 2017; 114: 29–36 VOLLTEXT |
| 2. | Reichardt C, Koniger D, Bunte-Schonberger K, et al.: Three years of national hand hygiene campaign in Germany: what are the key conclusions for clinical practice? J Hosp Infect 2013; 83: 11–6 CrossRef |
