Running head: EFFECTS OF HAND HYGIENE RELATED INFECTIONS
1
Effects of Hand Hygiene Related Infections among Hemodialysis Patients
Farzana Dhanani
Grand Canyon University
NRS-441V: Professional Capstone
Sheila Hicks, RN, MSN
November 9
th
, 2014
EFFECTS OF HAND HYGEINE RELATED INFECTIONS AMONG HEMODIALYSIS
PATIENTS
2
Abstract
Effects of hand-hygiene practices of healthcare workers on healthcare associated
infections (HAIs) are amongst the primary causes of preventable deaths among hemodialysis
patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). Patients on hemodialysis (HD) with ESRD are
more vulnerable to device related infections due to their immunocompromised status and
frequently accessing HD ports or catheters poses higher risk of mortality and morbidity. Catheter
related infections (CRIs) and HAIs are the significant threat to p
atient’s safety and pose
tremendous financial burden on healthcare system associated with increased healthcare cost.
Research evidence supports that HAIs significantly be prevented simply by proper hand hygiene
practices and compliances of healthcare workers through providing continuous education,
frequent reminders, and enhancing knowledge which ultimately affects their behavior of hand
hygiene compliance and influence practices. Various research studies also revealed significant
improvements’ in hand hygi
ene practices and compliances if monitored hand hygiene practices
via audits as compared to honor system of healthcare workers’ has significantly reduce
d the
number of HAIs. The following report covers hand-hygiene as an extremely important issue in
the dialysis settings as the renal community is fighting to reduce infections and increase the
quality of patient care. Therefore a variety of tools and guides are available to help renal experts
to follow proper hand hygiene practice and compliances which can help improve dialysis care in
the facility and in the United States in general.
Key words: Hand Hygiene, Catheter related infections (CRIs), Healthcare associated infections
(HAIs), Healthcare workers (HCWs), End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), Audit, Surveillance,
Honor system. Knowledge.
EFFECTS OF HAND HYGEINE RELATED INFECTIONS AMONG HEMODIALYSIS
PATIENTS
3
Effects of Hand Hygiene Related Infections among Hemodialysis Patients
Problem and Solution Statement
The biggest problem that has been recognized by the writer is the lack of hand hygiene
practice in the midst of health care workers (HCW) in dialysis units in long term acute care,
which is the major source of health care associated infections (HCAIs), and demands
engagements to expand compliance with hand hygiene protocols (Alemagno, Guten, Warthman,
Young, & Mackay, 2010). Hand washing is the first and most basic step in the prevention of
transmission of the infection, but lapse in infection control practices occurs more frequently than
it should and healthcare professionals must provide quality, safe and basic infection control care
and practices for the immunocompromised especially dialysis patients and should be integrated
into the routine provision of dialysis care (Duval, 2014).
