Effect of Handwashing Techniques on Hospital-Acquired Infections

Running head: PICOT STATEMENT PAPER 1
PICOT Statement Patient
September 1, 2018
Picot Statement
The PICOT statement of this literature review entails;

PICOT STATEMENT PAPER 2
The effect of handwashing techniques on hospitalized patients compared to the usage of
hand gloves, alcohol sanitizers or not washing hands in reducing the occurrence of getting
hospital-associated infections during the hospital stay among health care workers staff.
The most common form of nosocomial infections emanates from unhygienic washing of
hands among the health care providers. This study assesses hand hygiene practices given
reducing the rate of hospital-acquired infections thus reducing the cost of care and the length of
stay at the hospital.
Problem
Nosocomial infection often necessitates longer stay and hospitalization of patients. The
occurrence of this state leads to increased health care costs and management. There is a high
occurrence of this disease across the high, middle and low-income countries. Centre for Disease
Control estimates that costs average at $2,100 and vary depending on the associated infections.
Status is often critical at intensive care units due to the severity states of the patients which
require attention. Nosocomial infections remain largely a threat and a cause for morbidity and
mortality globally (Tolera, Abate, Dheresa&Marami, 2018).
Nosocomial infections are systematic infections which result from adverse reactions to
infectious agents and toxins which develop during the first 48 hours or thereafter after admission.
The most prevalent forms of nosocomial infections are urinary tract infections, surgical sites
infections, primary bloodstream infections and pneumonia (Shoaei, Sali&Yousefi, 2017).
Transmission occurrence in hospitals often occurs through cross-contamination of patients
through hands especially among the health care staff who often come into frequent contact with
patients or through cross-contamination.
Literature Review
Hand hygiene practices in health care settings have been associated with reduced rates of
developing nosocomial infections. Adherence to hand hygiene has been proven to improve the
overall hygiene status of health care workers. Studies have assessed various protocol methods to
assess hand hygiene practices. An investigative study on handwashing protocol revealed that this
practice in the intensive care setting was associated with reduced rates of acquired infections and