Intended for healthcare professionals

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Research

Comparative efficacy of interventions to promote hand hygiene in hospital: systematic review and network meta-analysis

BMJ 2015; 351 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.h3728 (Published 28 July 2015) Cite this as: BMJ 2015;351:h3728

Rapid Response:

Re: Comparative efficacy of interventions to promote hand hygiene in hospital: systematic review and network meta-analysis

Each time a healthcare worker stops to wash, gel, or foam their hands, it takes time. Maybe only a short time on each occasion; but the occasions can add up to a considerable period of time over the day.

McCartney has recently pointed out the increased risk to patients associated with poor staffing.[1] It seems very likely that excellent hand hygiene will be one of the first consequences of poor staffing levels, regardless of other factors.

1. McCartney M. Margaret McCartney: Taking patient safety seriously means minimum staffing levels. BMJ 2015;351. (http://www.bmj.com/content/351/bmj.h3903).

Competing interests: No competing interests

29 July 2015
Peter M English
Public Health Physician
N/A - this is a personal response
West Ewell, Surrey