Reduced environmental contamination, by thorough cleaning, can be effective in preventing or delaying initial I. suis infections in very young suckling piglets [ 2] and farms applying above-average hygiene measures have decreased infection rates [ 13].
Studies show the average hand hygiene compliance among healthcare workers (HCWs) is 40%.
Health-conscious individuals also tend to have better than average oral hygiene.
It has been suggested that health-conscious individuals tend to have better than average oral hygiene [ 7].
Average hand hygiene compliance rates increased from 67.7% in audit 1, to 80.3% in audit 8, and remained above the 70% national target rate from audit 2 onwards.
Average hand hygiene compliance rates increased from 67.7% to 80.3% during the study period (2010 2013), with 46.7% of hospitals achieving target compliance rates of 70% in audit 1, versus 92.3% in audit 8. Average hand hygiene rates at small hospitals were 7.8 percentage points (pp) higher than those at the largest hospitals (p<0.05).
A US study estimated average hand hygiene rates of 56.6% in 40 hospitals using data collected for 1 year before and after the introduction of national hand hygiene guidelines in 2002.
Still, a recent multi-centre study only showed an average hand hygiene compliance of 19%, even lower than the compliance observed in Turkey (V. Erasmus, G. Vos, personal communication).
This is comparable with rates of 62.2% from a sample of NSW hospitals in February 2007, which were observed following the introduction of the Clean Hand Saves Lives campaign during 2006 2007, 15 and continues the improvement shown nationally in Australia with average hand hygiene rates estimated at 68.3% in 2011.
Imtiaz has developed skin disease due the extreme temperatures (50 degrees Celsius on average) and bad hygiene conditions in the camp.
Although the compliance rate in hand hygiene on average only amounts to 50%, it can be safely assumed that approximately on average 20 hygienic hand disinfections are carried out per healthcare worker per shift [ 19].
