Hand Hygiene & NHS Scotland

Evidence Bank of Literature

The scientific articles below have been selected due to their relevance to hand hygiene and in particular the work carried out for the National Hand Hygiene Campaign. Additional relevant articles will be added on an ongoing basis.

Full text articles or abstracts can be accessed by logging onto The Knowledge Network using an Athens password.

The information contained on this page is for general information purposes only and the responsibility for interpretation and use of the material lies with the reader. HPS are not responsible for the content of the materials and the views and opinions of the authors do not necessarily reflect those of HPS.

Hand Hygiene Compliance

Boyce JM, Cooper T, Dolan MJ. Evaluation of an electronic device for real-time measurement of alcohol-based hand rub use, Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology 2009; 30 (11), 1090-1095
Pittet D, Hugonnet S, Harbarth S, Mourouga P, Sauvan V, Touveneau S, Perneger TV and members of the Infection Control Programme. Effectiveness of a hospital-wide programme to improve compliance with hand hygiene. Lancet 2000; 356, 1307-1312
Pittet D. Improving adherence to hand hygiene practice: a multidisciplinary approach, Emerging Infectious Diseases 2001; 7 (2), 234-240
Pittet D, Allegranzi B, Sax H, Dharan S, Pessoa-Silva CL, Donaldson L, Boyce JM. Evidence-based model for hand transmission during patient care and the role of improved practices, Lancet Infectious Diseases 2006; 6, 641-652
Randle J, Clarke M, Storr J. Hand hygiene compliance in healthcare workers, Journal of Hospital Infection 2006; 64 (3), 205-209
Sax H, Allegranzi B, Chraïti MN, Boyce J, Larson E, Pittet D. The World Health Organization hand hygiene observation method, American Journal of Infection Control 2009; 37 (10), 827-834
Sax H, Allegranzi B, Uckay I, Larson E, Boyce J, Pittet D. 'My five moments for hand hygiene': a user-centred design approach to understand, train, monitor and report hand hygiene. Journal of Hospital Infection 2007; 67 (1), 9-21
NEW Dierssen-Sotos T, Brugos-Llamazares V, Robles-García M, Rebollo-Rodrigo H, Fariñas-Alvarez C, Antolín-Juarez FM, Fernandez-Núñez ML, López Marta de LC, Llorca J. Evaluating the impact of a hand hygiene campaign on improving adherence, American Journal of Infection Control 2010; 38 (3): 240-243
NEW Erasmus V, Daha TJ, Brug H, Richardus JH, Behrendt MD, Vos MC, van Beeck EF. Systematic review of studies on compliance with hand hygiene guidelines in hospital care, Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology 2010; 31 (3): 283-294
NEW Helms B, Dorval S, Laurent PS, Winter M. Improving hand hygiene compliance: a multidisciplinary approach, American Journal of Infection Control 2010 [Epub ahead of print]

Alcohol Based Hand Hygiene Products

Kampf G. How effective are hand antiseptics for the postcontamination treatment of hands when used as recommended? American Journal of Infection Control 2008; 36 (5), 356-360
Kampf G, Hollingsworth A. Comprehensive bactericidal activity of an ethanol-based hand gel in 15 seconds, Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials 2008; 7:2
Kaiser N, Klein D, Karanja P, Greten Z, Newman J. Inactivation of chlorhexidine gluconate on skin by incompatible alcohol hand sanitizing gels, American Journal of Infection Control 2009; 37, 569-573
Lages SL, Ramakrishnan MA, Goyal SM. In-vivo efficacy of hand sanitisers against feline calicivirus: a surrogate for norovirus. Journal of Hospital Infection 2008; 68 (2), 159-163
Oughton MT, Loo VG, Dendukuri N, Fenn S, Libman M. Hand hygiene with soap and water is superior to alcohol rub and antiseptic wipes for removal of Clostridium difficile, Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology 2009; 30 (10), 939-944

Hand Hygiene Technique

Gould D, Drey N. Hand hygiene technique, Nursing Standard 2008; 22 (34), 42-46
Kampf G, Reichel M, Feil Y, Eggerstedt S, Kaulfers PM. Influence of rub-in technique on required application time and hand coverage in hygienic hand disinfection, BMC Infectious Diseases 2008; 8:149
NEW Hautemanière A, Hunter PR, Diguio N, Albuisson E, Hartemann P. Factors determining poor practice in alcoholic gel hand rub technique in hospital workers, Journal of Infection and Public Health 2010; 3: 25-34

Hand Hygiene, Attitudes, Perceptions and Behaviour

Pittet D. The Lowbury lecture: behaviour in infection control, Journal of Hospital Infection 2004; 58 (1), 1-13
Pittet D, Simon A, Hugonnet S, Pessoa-Silva CL, Sauvan V, Perneger TV. Hand hygiene among physicians: performance, beliefs, and perceptions. Annals of Internal Medicine 2004; 141 (1), 1-8

Hand Hygiene and Jewellery

Fagernes M, Lingaas E. Impact of finger rings on transmission of bacteria during hand contact, Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology 2009; 30 (5), 427-432

Guidelines and Policies

Boyce JM, Pittet D. Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Health-Care Settings: recommendations of the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee and the HICPAC/SHEA/APIC/IDSA Hand Hygiene Task Force. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology 2002; 23 (12 Suppl), S3-40
Pittet D, Allegranzi B, Boyce J. The World Health Organization Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care and their consensus recommendations. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology 2009; 30 (7), 611-622

Hand Hygiene Promotion

Fitzpatrick KR, Pantle AC, McLaws ML, Hughes C. Culture change for hand hygiene: Clean hands save lives, Part II, Medical Journal of Australia 2009; 191 (8): S13-S17
Kilpatrick C. Save lives: clean your hands. A global call for action at the point of care, American Journal of Infection Control 2009; 37 (4), 261-262
Kilpatrick C, Allegranzi B, Pittet D. The global impact of hand hygiene campaigning. Euro Surveillance 2009; 14 (17):pii=19191
Kilpatrick C, Storr J. A new challenge for 2009 and beyond? Journal of Infection Prevention 2009; 10 (3), 86-88
McLaws ML, Pantle AC, Fitzpatrick KR, Hughes C. Improvements in hand hygiene across New South Wales public hospitals: Clean hands save lives, Part III, Medical Journal of Australia 2009;191 (8): S18-S25
Magiorakos AP, Suetens C, Boyd L, Costa C, Cunney R, Drouvot V, Farrugia C, Fernandez-Maillo MM, Iversen BG, Leens E, Michael S, Moro ML, Reinhardt C, Serban R, Vatcheva-Dobrevska R, Wilson K, Heisbourg E, Maltezou HC, Strauss R, Borocz K, Dolinsek M, Dumpis U, Erne S, Gudlaugsson O, Heczko P, Hedlova D, Holt J, Joe L, Lyytikainen O, Riesenfeld-Orn I, Stefkovikova M, Valinteliene R, Voss A, Monnet DL. National hand hygiene campaigns in Europe, 2000-2009. Euro
Surveillance 2009; 14 (17):pii=19190
Pentle AC, Fitzpatrick KR, McLaws ML, Hughes C. A statewide approach to systematising hand hygiene behaviour in hospitals: Clean hands save lives, Part I, Medical Journal of Australia 2009; 191 (8): S8-S12
Pittet D. Hand hygiene promotion: 5 moments, 5 components, 5 steps, and 5 May 2009. International Journal of Infection Control 2009; 5 (1)
NEW Marra AR, Guastelli LR, de Araújo CM, dos Santos JL, Lamblet LC, Silva M Jr, de Lima G, Cal RG, Paes AT, Cendoroglo Neto M, Barbosa L, Edmond MB, dos Santos OF. Positive deviance: A new strategy for improving hand hygiene compliance, Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology 2010; 31 (1): 12-20

Hand Hygiene and Healthcare Associated Infections

McLaws ML, Pantle AC, Fitzpatrick KR, Hughes CF. More than hand hygiene is needed to affect methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus clinical indicator rates: Clean hands save lives, Part IV, Medical Journal of Australia 2009; 191 (8): S26-S31
Pessoa-Silva CL, Hugonnet S, Pfister R, Touveneau S, Dharan S, Posfay-Barbe K, Pittet D. Reduction of health care associated infection risk in neonates by successful hand hygiene promotion, Pediatrics 2007; 120 (2), e382-e390