Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences Hospital Practices and Research 2476-390X 4 3 2019 09 01 Hand Hygiene Compliance in a Medical-Surgical Intensive Care Unit in La Habana 102 104 92397 10.15171/hpr.2019.20 EN Humberto Guanche Garcell Hospital Epidemiology Department, Hospital Joaquín Albarrán, La Habana, Cuba 0000-0001-7279-0062 Luis Gonzalez Alvarez Hospital Epidemiology Department, Hospital Joaquín Albarrán, La Habana, Cuba Anayka González Valdés Hospital Epidemiology Department, Hospital Joaquín Albarrán, La Habana, Cuba Katerine Cardenas Goulet Hospital Epidemiology Department, Hospital Joaquín Albarrán, La Habana, Cuba Gloria Fresneda Septiem Hospital Epidemiology Department, Hospital Joaquín Albarrán, La Habana, Cuba Francisco Gutierrez García Hospital Epidemiology Department, Hospital Joaquín Albarrán, La Habana, Cuba 0000-0002-9972-4142 Journal Article 2019 05 08 <strong>Background: </strong>Hand hygiene plays a key role in the prevention of healthcare-associated infection in critical patients.<br /> <strong>Objective: </strong>The current study aimed to evaluate compliance with hand hygiene practices.<br /> <strong>Methods: </strong>An observational and descriptive study was carried out in a 35-bed medical-surgical critical care unit in La Habana (Cuba) from January 2017 to December 2018. The observational method recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) was used.<br /> <strong>Results: </strong>Overall compliance was 34.2% (5516/16 125), with better compliance among physicians (39%) compared with nurses (31.4%) and ancillary staff (19.5%). Better compliance was observed after patient contact (65.7%) and after contact with patients’ surroundings (42.0%) in comparison with greater focus on patient safety as before patient contact (23.3%) and before an aseptic task (11.4%). Hand washing was performed more frequently than hand rubs.<br /> <strong>Conclusion: </strong>Compliance with hand hygiene practices is low and no improvement in compliance was observed during the study period. This practice is related to the high risk of transmission of healthcare-related infections in critical patients and requires quality improvement interventions. https://www.jhpr.ir/article_92397_8fa6d0ae5102931725c187119851cfa9.pdf