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Clean Hands

Observation protocol “Hand-hygiene in the NICU”

Publication date: 01 January 2013

Students work together on stimulating compliance with hand-hygiene procedures in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), part of the paediatric department at Erasmus MC Sophia Children’s Hospital in Rotterdam.

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In approximately 60% of cases as measured in ten hospitals connected with the Collaborating Rijnmond Hospitals Foundation, there is an indication to follow procedures for hand-hygiene according to the Dutch report “Handen Uit de Mouwen” (Rolling Up the Sleeves), based on World Health Organization's My five moments for hand hygiene. Unfortunately, the prescribed hand-hygiene at the NICU’s in hospitals is regularly performed poorly or not at all. The 60% compliance is relatively high compared to other wards. However, poor compliance with hand hygiene is a worldwide problem, leading to many preventable deaths.