Alcohol Based Sanitizers for Infection Control in Nursing: An Evidence Based Research

Running head: EVIDENCE BASED NURSING RESEARCH
Evidence Based Nursing Research
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EVIDENCE BASED NURSING RESEARCH
Assessment 2a
Background
One of the greatest burdens on the health care sector for the present situations in the Australian
demographics is the hospital acquired infections (HAI). As mentioned by White et al. (2015),
the number of individuals acquiring hospital acquired infection is 165000 per year which adds
a considerable burden on the total health care expenditure of the nation. Hence, it is crucial for
the health care expenditure considerably. Hence, it is very important for the health care
facilities to have a robust infection control protocol in place with persistent hand hygiene
products to be able to reduce rates of HAI. This paper will attempt evidence based research on
the most plausible and effective infection control measure that can be employed in health care.
Importance to Nursing
The importance of infection control protocol is not just crucial for the patients, infection
control protocol is also an imperative requirement for the nursing workforce as well. It has to
be mentioned that nurses are the first point of contact with the health care facility and the most
of the hospital acquired infections are spread by the hands of the nurses or the contaminated
equipment of supplies that the nurses have been using (Ory, Zingg, de Kraker, Soule & Pittet,
2018). As per Jamal, O'grady, Harnett, Dalton and Andresen, (2012), nurses perform a pivotal
role in avoiding the hospital acquired infections with the help of different infection control
measures and ensuring evidence based practice in all aspects of care. Along with that, as
mentioned by authors, nurses are exposed to different infectious pathogens while caring for the
patients and hence, the implementation of a curative infection control measure is also helpful
to provide a defense mechanism for the nurses against infectious diseases (Birnbach et al.,

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EVIDENCE BASED NURSING RESEARCH
2012). Hence, the importance of proper infection control can be considered huge in the nursing
context.
Personal Reflection
Reporting
Hospital acquired infection is a grave concern for the Australian
health care system as there are approximately 165000 new cases of
hospital acquired infections reported every year. The most common
prevalent types of infections occurred through HIA includes UTI,
MRSA, surgical site and respiratory infections (Who.int, 2018). I
believe that the infection control measures are one of the greatest
defense mechanisms for the health care workforce to be able to
provide protection against HAI. Although, it has to be mentioned
that Australian national health care authorities lack a national
surveillance system on HAIs to collect and report them. Hence, we
require extensive research to develop a standard protocol for
infection control with a particular product such as alcohol based
sanitizer that health care professionals can follow.
Responding
Personally I believe the lack of proper infection control in the
health care facilities is substantially influenced by the lack of any
standard protocol for the infection protocol to follow in certain
situations. An evidence based comparative research to decide on a
particular infection control product that is going to be used across
the nation will provide clarity and transparency to the aspect and

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EVIDENCE BASED NURSING RESEARCH
will reduce the numbers of hospital acquired infections.
Relating
Research states that, with alcohol based sanitizers or rubs, the
chances of spreading the infection is far lesser than when using
normal soap and water (Birnbach et al., 2012). According to the
WHO guidelines as well, modern alcohol based hand sanitizers have
minimal side effects and when used appropriately it will not have
immense drying effect on the hands as well (Who.int, 2018). Hence,
the effectiveness of alcohol based sanitizers as compared to normal
soap and water is much higher.
Reasoning
Most of the nursing workforce attempts to use normal
antimicrobial soap and water for infection control in the facility.
However, the use of alcohol based sanitizers is much more effective
in case of the infection control than the soap and water (Pires, Soule,
Bellissimo-Rodrigues, Gayet-Ageron & Pittet, 2017). Hence, the
nurses need to incorporate the use of alcohol based products in their
hand hygiene in order to be able to reduce the rate of HAI
Reconstructing
The lack of literacy and understanding regarding the
effectiveness of alcohol based sanitizers contribute to the most of the
resistance in the nursing workforce (Jamal, O'grady, Harnett, Dalton
& Andresen, 2012). Hence, an evidence based research exploring
the efficacy of hand hygiene involving alcohol based sanitizers
weighing out the pros and cons will be very useful to improve
practice.
Assessment 2b
Aim