Hand Hygiene Tracking: A Report on Infection Control Strategies

This report focuses on the critical role of hand hygiene tracking in preventing infections within healthcare settings. It highlights the significance of hand hygiene, especially given the constant risk of germ transmission via hands. The report emphasizes the importance of hand hygiene for healthcare providers, patients, and visitors. It explores the effectiveness of electronic monitoring systems in improving hand hygiene compliance. The report also delves into the ethical issues associated with hand hygiene, such as respect for professional autonomy, virtue ethics, and relational ethics. As a medical practitioner, the author proposes introducing germ-detecting gadgets, enhancing patient education, and leveraging the nursing workforce for better implementation. The report suggests government funding and the use of technological advancements to ensure the success of hand hygiene tracking. The report concludes by underscoring the need for public policy and education to foster an infection-free future.

Running head: Hand hygiene tracking 1
Hand hygiene tracking
Name of student
Institution
Date

Hand hygiene tracking 2
HAND HYGIENE TRACKING
Germs are the cause of many infections in the world (Bohlin, 2017). Since hands are the most
active, they come into contact with germs, which cause infections all the time. Hand hygiene
tracking is, therefore, key to preventing infections. Healthcare providers also find themselves at
the risk of getting these infections. It is, therefore, important they wash their hands frequently to
avoid getting these infections. Visitors and patients are also obliged to do so to protect
themselves. It is the role of healthcare providers to explain the reason for washing their hands
before, after, and also during patient care. The topic is important since it helps control infections
and diseases that are transferred via ingesting. Washing hands should, therefore, be done by
everyone. Research published in the American Journal of infection control showed that
electronic monitoring systems could improve hand hygiene. The monitoring showed 76,130
handwashing opportunities with a performance of 67.43 percent (Hebda, Hunter, & Czar, 2019).
This percentage reduced after the withdrawal of the monitoring systems. It is, therefore,
important.
One of the ethical issues presented by the topic is respect for professional autonomy (Hebda,
Hunter, & Czar, 2019). Healthcare personnel is obliged to prevent harm from getting to patients
by prioritizing the safety of the patients to provide essential and appropriate hygiene (How Nurse
Gender Influences Patient Priority Assignments in US Emergency Departments, 2017). Virtue
ethics are also important to emphasize efficient hand hygiene as a morally correct choice.
Relational ethics are also important as they explain proper hygiene and how patients should be
cared for.
As a medical practitioner, I would introduce some changes and improve some already existing
plans. The first introduction would be medical gadgets that detect germs in many institutions

Hand hygiene tracking 3
since many hospitals don’t have them. To the hospital with them, I would ensure that they are
used to ensure efficiency. I would also dwell more on the education of patients on the importance
of hand hygiene tracking and also educate people and patients on the machines and gadgets used
in the trecking. For this to be successful, medical practitioners and especially the nurses are
needed. Nurses are needed since they have a large population, and therefore the efficiency is
increased. The nurses and medical practitioners, therefore, need sufficient information for the
project to be successful. This means that they also need training, which is already ongoing. The
funding will be done by the government since the project of educating people touches the
country as people are able to remain healthy. Evaluation can be done by checking the number of
cases that arise due to ingesting germs that a person got because of having dirty hands. A
decrease would show that the program is working well (Bernat & Beresford, 2014).
Technological advancements in this field would mean reduced diseases (Vlad & Roman, 2019).
The gadgets being invented are very useful. Some can remind people to wash their hands after
doing some activities that had made them come into contact with germs. Public policy would
also help by ensuring the visions and ideas developed are put into place. The changes would later
lead to the betterment of the healthcare facilities and reduced infections.
In conclusion, it is important to educate people on the dangers of these infections to ensure that
we have an infection-free future.

Hand hygiene tracking 4
References
Hebda, T. L., Hunter, K., & Czar, P. (2019). Handbook of Informatics for Nurses and
Healthcare Professionals. NY.
Bernat, J. L., & Beresford, R. (2014). Ethical and Legal Issues in Neurology. London, NY:
Newnes.
Bohlin, G. (2017). Evolving germs – Antibiotic resistance and natural selection in education
and public communication. NY: Linköping University Electronic Press.
How Nurse Gender Influences Patient Priority Assignments in US Emergency Departments.
(2017). NY.
Vlad, S., & Roman, N. M. (2019). 6th International Conference on Advancements of Medicine
and Health Care through Technology; 17–20 October 2018, Cluj-Napoca, Romania:
MEDITECH 2018. Basingstoke, NY: Springer.