The challenges of hand hygiene improvement: a comparison between inpatient and outpatient units

Methods This program was conducted in a 500-bed private hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. WHO tool was used to assess HH adherence before (Jun-Aug2008) and after the intervention (Jul-Sept2009). The inpatient units were: Medical Surgical Ward, Oncology, Neonatal and Pediatrics and outpatient were: Surgical Ambulatory, Obstetric Center, Emergency, Post Anesthesia, Diagnostic Medicine Department and Dialysis Center. Several strategies were applied – campaigns, behavioral methods, and educational programs. More dispensers of alcohol-based product were made available in areas of the hospital such as restaurants, cafeterias, waiting rooms, lounges, receptions and next to elevators.