Canadian health care group: Less than half of hospital workers wash hands

William Atkins
Sunday, 10 June 2007 05:49

Science - Health

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The organization found, based on a 2004 study, that less than 40% of Canadian health workers in hospital wash their hands on a regular basis. Such a low percentage of hand washing in Canadian hospitals, according to the group, is costing the country’s health system millions of dollars and thousands of lives each year.

CPSI head Philip Hassen says, “I think people have not really been as attentive as they would like to be.”

The CPSI organization also states that better hand washing in hospitals could reduce the number of incidences of infectious diseases, both minor and deadly ones, within Canadian hospitals. In fact, according to statistics, between 8,000 and 12,000 people each year die from infections within Canadian hospitals. The CPSI states that at least 4,000 people could be saved by better hand washing techniques from hospital workers.

The organization also states that one out of four patients of intensive care units (ICUs) acquire an infection while in the hospital. CPSI officials state that improved hand hygiene in ICUs could reduce the rate of infections originating in hospitals by up to 50%.

Because of these conclusions, the CPSI is launching a national campaign to promote hand washing in Canadian hospitals. The organization is also pursing new research in which participating Canadian hospitals will measure whether better hand washing has an effect on infection rates within each hospital.

Similar campaign would, no doubt, be also helpful throughout the world.

The Canadian Patient Safety Institute, established in 2003, is an independent not-for-profit corporation. It operates with health professionals and organizations, regulatory bodies, and governments to provide a safer healthcare system for all Canadian citizens.