Top 10 reasons HCWs fail to wash hands

Joint Commission Update for Infection Control

Top 10 reasons HCWs fail to wash hands

A distracted worker with hands full

In a hand hygiene improvement project by the Joint Commission's Center for Transforming Healthcare, the following common barriers to compliance were observed across the eight participating hospitals.

Ineffective placement of dispensers or sinks

Hand hygiene compliance data are not collected or reported accurately or frequently

Lack of accountability and just-in-time coaching

Safety culture does not stress hand hygiene at all levels

Ineffective or insufficient education

Hands full

Wearing gloves interferes with process

Perception that hand hygiene is not needed if wearing gloves

Health care workers forget

Distractions