Monitoring the effectiveness of surgical handwashing in healthcare workers of a fourth level operating room using bioluminescence assays

Aims: To assesses the effectiveness of surgical handwashing (S-HW) in healthcare workers (HCWs) terms organic material and bacteria elimination by means bioluminescence assays.
 Methods: 62-HCWs were subjected to analyses determine adenosine triphosphate (ATP) colony forming units (CFU) Enterobacteriaceae (EB) E. coli before after S-HW. A checklist evaluate adherence hand hygiene (HH) protocol was implemented.
 Results: ATP HH (510.9/RLU) reduced S-HW (54.6/RLU), evidencing a significant decrease (p=0.001). Regarding bacteria, 26.6/CFU 4/CFU for EB reported S-HW, respectively. After CFU decreased (21.8/CFU) (3.5/CFU) without showing reduction (p=0.679). Low did not evidence direct relation with (p=0.082) (p=0.680) reduction. Surgical instrument professionals (p=0.001), general surgeons residents (p=0.017), orthopedists (p=0.029) otolaryngologists evidenced Factors such as direction, soap, moments time implemented showed statistically difference ATP, but CFU.
 Conclusion: Although there no bacteria. This finding only allowed identify potential errors processes, also permitted generate strategies improve prevent healthcare-associated infections.