• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.127-137
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to compare the hand disinfection effect of waterless alcohol gel hand washing agent with that of soap and water, 4% chlorhexidine gluconate, and 10% povidone-iodine. Hands of fourty subjects were artificially contaminated with Acinetobacter baumannii $5m{\ell}$ and randomly distributed to each hand washing methods. Samples were collected from gloved hand by glove juice sampling procedure. Mean log reduction after hand washing were compared with baseline values. Number of microorganisms were converted to log and tested by ANOVA in SPSSWIN 10.0. Mean log reduction of soap and water, alcohol gel, 4% chlorhexidine gluconate, 10% povidone-iodine were $2.76{\pm}0.62$, $2.97{\pm}0.56$, $4.66{\pm}1.70$, $4.60{\pm}0.91$, respectively. The bactericidal effect of alcohol gel was similar to that of soap and water, but the effect was much less than chlorhexidine gluconate and povidone-iodine(p<0.001). In terms of microorganism reduction, the efficacy of waterless alcohol gel was almost the same as soap and water hand washing. Further evaluation of the bactericidal effect of waterless alcohol gel is needed because waterless alcohol gel is simple, convenient, and non-irritating hand washing agent and also very effective in busy hospital environment.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.21-30
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• 2003

The effect of hand hygiene was measured by hand culture before and after hand hygiene for 86 nurses, doctors, and nurses aide/housekeepers in Surgical Intensive Care Unit. The subjects were asked to press their dominant hand in hand-shaped Mannitol salt agar immediately after patient contact and then washed their hand by preferred hand hygiene agents [soap and water, waterless alcohol gel, or 4% chlorhexidine gluconate detergent (CHG)], and cultured one hand again Amount of isolated microorganism was calculated by counting the number of divided areas ($1{\times}1cm$) which is culture positive in hand culture plate. The amount of microorganisms were significantly reduced from 58.1(${\pm}38.59$) to 27.4(${\pm}30.4$) cells after hand hygiene. The staff nurse's hand hygiene was more effective compared to medical doctors and nurses aide/housekeepers. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) was isolated in 41(47.1%) subjects ; but only removed 100% in 28(32.2%) subjects. When the amount of hand microorganisms was compared by subject's preferred hand hygiene agents, it was decreased in order of 4% CHG, waterless alcohol solution, soap and water, and water. The hand hygiene practice was inadequate to reduce hand microorganisms and significantly different by occupations. Further research and development of hand hygiene improvement program which emphasize the quality of hand hygiene is recommended.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.73-81
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was done to identify the intensive care unit nurses' knowledge of and compliance with the standard precautions (universal precaution) as stated in infection control guidelines. Method: From September 14 to September 28, 2006, data were collected via a questionnaire survey from 189 Intensive Care Unit nurses working at three university branch hospitals and one general hospital in Gyeonggi province. Results: The mean knowledge score was 18.8/20.0 (93.9%). The mean compliance score was 3.4/4.0 (85.8%). Two factors influencing compliance were perception of the standard precautions and experience of needle stick injuries over the past year (p<.05). Two factors influencing knowledge were support of co-workers in the use of protective devices and the availability of hand-washing device or waterless alcohol gel (p<.05). Conclusion: In order to improve knowledge and compliance with standard precautions, all factors of importance for knowledge and compliance must be taken into consideration in the clinical work place and in education.