Video Surveillance with Real-Time Feedback Increases Hand-Hygiene Compliance

In one intensive care unit, compliance increased from 6.5% to 81.6% after this strategy was implemented; with continued feedback, the improvement was sustained through 17 months.

Hand-washing is the single most important factor in preventing hospital-associated infections. Unfortunately, compliance with recommended practices averages <40%. Hand-hygiene compliance has been observed both directly and indirectly, but the use of video cameras has been limited. Investigators recently evaluated video surveillance with real-time feedback in the medical intensive care unit (MICU) of a U.S. hospital.

Video cameras were set up in hallways and patient rooms to provide views of hand-washing sinks and alcohol dispensers; motion detectors were installed in the doorways of all patient rooms. When activated, the motion sensors sent a signal with a time stamp to a digital video recorder. Remotely stationed observers monitored hand-hy…

Reviewing Author

Neil M. Ampel, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)

Neil M. Ampel, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)