HAND HYGIENE IN NURSING PRACTICE: CURRENT RECOMMENDATIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES

Abstract

Introduction. Hand hygiene is one of the most effective, cost-efficient, and evidence-based measures for the prevention of healthcare-associated infections. Despite the availability of clear international guidelines, adherence to this practice among healthcare workers, particularly nurses, remains suboptimal, highlighting the need to improve approaches to its organization and implementation in clinical practice.

The aim of the study – to analyze current evidence-based approaches to the organization and implementation of hand hygiene standards in healthcare settings and to substantiate effective strategies for their integration into clinical practice and professional nursing activities.

The main part. An analytical review of current international guidelines and scientific publications was conducted, including documents from WHO, CDC, and NICE, as well as findings from systematic reviews and meta-analyses addressing hand hygiene compliance. The analysis demonstrated that hand hygiene compliance rates vary widely (30–60 %) and are influenced by both organizational and behavioral factors. Evidence indicates that the implementation of multimodal strategies—including ensuring access to alcohol-based hand rubs, interactive staff training, regular audit, and feedback—can increase compliance rates by an average of 20–30 %. Nurses play a key role in ensuring infection prevention, as their professional competence and motivation directly affect the quality of care.

Conclusions. Effective implementation of hand hygiene standards requires a systemic approach that integrates organizational, educational, and behavioral interventions. The development of a patient safety culture is essential for improving healthcare quality and reducing infectious complications. Improving hand hygiene compliance in healthcare settings requires the implementation of comprehensive multimodal strategies that combine resource availability, continuous staff education, and systematic audit with feedback. Institutional integration of these practices into clinical protocols and professional development programs, along with fostering a patient-centered safety culture, is essential.