According to the Executive the latest data from national audits shows that almost nine out of ten health professionals in Irish hospitals have clean hands.
Hand hygiene compliance rates in Irish hospitals now stand at 89.2 per cent. But that is still just below the HSE target of 90 per cent.
“Hand hygiene is the single most effective measure that healthcare workers, patients and the public can undertake to prevent healthcare associated infection which affect hundreds of millions of patients around the world every year,” said HSE’s Clinical Lead in Healthcare Associated Infections, Dr Robert Cunney.
“The HSE aims to build on improved rates of hand hygiene compliance amongst healthcare workers and spread this improvement in healthcare facilities outside of acute hospitals.
“The latest hand hygiene compliance rates show an overall compliance rate of 89.2 per cent in late 2015, a significant improvement on the 74.7 per cent achieved in 2011 when hand hygiene audits were introduced.
“The progress to date is very welcome, but improving it further is a priority for the HSE.”.
