To the Editor: We congratulate Johnson et al on their article, which illustrates a successful hand hygiene program associated with a fall in transmission of multidrug-resistant organisms.1 Their publication is significant for three reasons:
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- 1 Infection Management Services, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Ipswich Road, Woollongabba, QLD 4120
- 2 School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052.
Correspondence: whitbym@health.qld.gov.au
- 1. Johnson PDR, Martin R, Burrell LJ, et al. Efficacy of an alcohol/chlorhexidine hand hygiene program in a hospital with high rates of nosocomial methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection. Med J Aust 2005; 183: 509-519. <eMJA full text> <MJA full text>
- 2. Pittet D, Hugonnet S, Harbath S, et al. Effectiveness of a hospital-wide programme to improve compliance with hand hygiene. Lancet 2000; 356: 1307-1312.
- 3. Whitby M, McLaws M-L. Hand-washing in healthcare workers: accessibility of sink location does not improve compliance. J Hosp Infect 2004; 58: 247-253.
- 4. World Health Organization. Behavioural considerations. In: WHO Guidelines on hand hygiene in health care (advanced draft). Chapter 15. Geneva: WHO, 2005: 53-57. Available at: http://www.who.int/patientsafety/events/05/HH_Guidelines_10Oct2005_AdvDraft_FINAL.pdf (accessed Jan 2006, no longer available; try http://www.who.int/patientsafety/events/05/HH_en.pdf).
- 5. Whitby M, McLaws M-L, Ross M. Why healthcare workers don’t wash their hands: a behavioural explanation. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2006; 27. In press.
- 6. World Health Organization. World Alliance for Patient Safety [website]. Available at: http://www.who.int/patientsafety/en/ (accessed Jan 2006).
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