Successful control of emerging vancomycin-resistant enterococci by territory-wide implementation of directly observed hand hygiene in patients in Hong Kong

Am J Infect Control. 2016 Oct 1;44(10):1168-1171. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2016.03.050. Epub 2016 Jun 10.

Abstract

With the emergence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in our public hospitals, territory-wide implementation of directly observed hand hygiene before meals and medications for all conscious hospitalized patients reverted the rising VRE incidence of 16.5% per month (P < .001) to a reduction of -9.8% per month (P < .001). The outbreak rate reverted from an increasing trend of 10.5% per month (P < .001) to a decreasing trend of -13.3% per month (P < .001) between January 2011 and October 2015.

Keywords: Vancomycin-resistant enterococci; directly observed hand hygiene.

Publication types

  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cross Infection / microbiology
  • Cross Infection / prevention & control*
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / epidemiology
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / microbiology
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / prevention & control*
  • Hand Hygiene*
  • Hong Kong / epidemiology
  • Hospitals
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Infection Control*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Vancomycin / therapeutic use
  • Vancomycin Resistance
  • Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci / drug effects*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Vancomycin