The effectiveness of hand hygiene procedures, including handwashing and alcohol-based hand sanitizers, in reducing the risks of infections in home and community settings

This report reviews the evidence base related to the impact of hand hygiene/handwashing in reducing transmission of Infectious Diseases in home (domestic) and community settings. The report focuses on developed countries, most particularly North America and Europe. It also evaluates the use of alcohol-based hygiene procedures as an alternative to, or in conjunction with, handwashing. The report compiles data from intervention studies, and considers it alongside risk modeling approaches (both qualitative and quantitative) based on microbiological data The report includes sections on: - - The burden of hygiene-related diseases in the domestic home and community - Developing a risk-based approach to home hygiene (infection prevention and control) - The role of hand hygiene in preventing infection transmission in the domestic home and community - The effectiveness of soap-based hand hygiene procedures and alcohol-based sanitizers - The impact of hand hygiene on infectious disease rates - Developing a framework for hand hygiene promotion in the domestic home The conclusions are set out succinctly in the Summary/Abstract and more fully in the final section Hand Hygiene in the domestic home and community: This document was prepared as a special project by the IFH. The first draft of the document was prepared by Professor Bloomfield and Dr A. Aiello . An expert group comprising Professor Bloomfield, Dr Aiello. Professor B. Cookson, Dr C. O'Boyle, Dr M. Pearson and Professor E.L. Larson met at Columbia University, New York in March 2007 to review, discuss and develop the review, and agree on final content. This paper was published in the American Journal of Infection Control 2007: 35 (10), supplement 1:S27-64.