The level of hand hygiene compliance by operating room personnel of ‎Educational Hospitals in Hamadan University of Medical Science

Introduction: Health care associated infections (HCAIs) are among challenges to health care ‎facilities. Hand hygiene is well known as the most efficient, cost benefit and simplest ‎technique for decreasing these infections. In operating room, surgical procedures as invasive ‎techniques affects patients more than patients in other wards. Hence hand hygiene compliance ‎has a substantial importance in these units.  ‎ Objective: This study aims to determine the level of hand hygiene compliance by operating ‎room personnel of Hamadan Educational Hospitals.  ‎ Methods: The study sample included all surgical operating room nurses of educational ‎hospitals of Hamadan. A ten item check list which included all hand hygiene compliance by ‎operating room team was used for data collection. Each study sample was observed four times ‎and totally ‎‏296‏‎ operating room nurses were observed. ‎  Results: Mean score of general hand hygiene was ‎‏61.3%‏‎ of total score. In most samples (‎‏53%‏‎) ‎the quality of general hand hygiene performance was average and mean score of general hand ‎hygiene in Besat, Maternity and ekbatan hospital respectively were ‎‏60.1%‏‎, ‎‏64.5%‏‎ and ‎‏62.3%‏‎ ‎of total score. There was no significant difference between mean score and different hospitals, ‎type of surgery and personel level of education. The least compliance with hand hygiene was ‎regarding hand wash with soap before(‎‏4.4%‏‎) and after(‎‏12.5%‏‎) patient care and after ‎removing gloves(‎‏10.8%‏‎). Also most of samples (‎‏67.9%‏‎) wear gloves for patient care. ‎ Conclusion: In this study average score of general hand hygiene were greater than ‎‏50%‏‎(‎‏61.3%‏‎) of total score but what is of importance is the non compliance with hand washing ‎before and after patient care (although it is among most important and effective means of ‎prevention of micro organism transmission). In addition due to the importance of complete ‎compliance of hand hygiene, it is essential to implement all necessary measures. ‎