Practice and compliance of essential handwashing among healthcare workers at a regional referral hospital in Uganda : A quality improvement and evidence-based practice

INTRODUCTION Hand hygiene (HH) is a cornerstone in the prevention of hospital acquired infection (HAI) (Gordis, 2014). It has been noted that at least 25% of all infections of hospitalised patients in the developing world are health care associated (Sax et al, 2009). Studies have shown that HH compliance rates in developed and developing countries rarely exceeded 50% (Mani, Shubangi, & Saini, 2010; Maxfield & Dull, 2011). The World Health Organisation (WHO, 2006) recommends five moments of HH during health care delivery as essential for safe patient care. HH is instrumental in the management of critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICU) and high dependence areas in clinical care settings. Frequent interaction between the critically ill patients and healthcare workers facilitates transmission of microbes from the healthcare workers (HCWs) to the patients and vice versa. Qushmaq et al. (2008) affirmed Practice and compliance of essential handwashing among healthcare workers at a regional referral hospital in Uganda: A quality improvement and evidence-based practice