The use of alcohol-based hand rub for surgical hand preparation has been proposed and a multi-step procedure was promulgated by the World Health Organization in 2009. Researchers from Trinity College Dublin in Ireland and from the University of Alcalá in Madrid, Spain, say this represents a culture change for surgical staff and they report on an automated training and monitoring system for the surgical staff.
The proposed system extends the SureWash automated hand hygiene training system developed in Trinity College Dublin. A larger operating space and a wider range of hand and arm motions are required. Three approaches to system design were taken: conventional single camera (IDS, DE), stereo-camera pair (Point Grey, Calif.) and a 3D camera (Microsoft, U.S.).
The cameras were positioned above the users with a clear view of their hands. For the single-camera system, background modeling and skin detection were combined to find the hands and arms. The solution was effective but was sensitive to the intensity and color of light in the workspace. The stereo-camera system measured the distances to objects in front of the camera and was combined with the skin detection to find the hands and arms. The researchers say that the system performed well but required significant processing power. The 3D camera system could detect the arms well but the camera had to be more than 50cm above the top of the user and multiple systems in a confined space can create interference.
Three designs were evaluated in the development of an automated training and monitoring system for alcohol-based handrub surgical hand preparation and the next step is to test each in the surgical scrub room and develop an engaging training program for surgical staff. Their research was presented at the International Conference on Prevention & Infection Control (ICPIC) held in Geneva, Switzerland June 29-July 2, 2011.
Reference: S Ameling, GÃ FearghaÃl, S Ãlvarez and G Lacey. Design of automated training and monitoring system for alcohol-based hand rub surgical hand preparation. Presentation at International Conference on Prevention & Infection Control (ICPIC) BMC Proceedings 2011, 5(Suppl 6):O32doi:10.1186/1753-6561-5-S6-O32
Tackling Health Care-Associated Infections: SHEA’s Bold 10-Year Research Plan to Save Lives
December 12th 2024Discover SHEA's visionary 10-year plan to reduce HAIs by advancing infection prevention strategies, understanding transmission, and improving diagnostic practices for better patient outcomes.
Point-of-Care Engagement in Long-Term Care Decreasing Infections
November 26th 2024Get Well’s digital patient engagement platform decreases hospital-acquired infection rates by 31%, improves patient education, and fosters involvement in personalized care plans through real-time interaction tools.
The Leapfrog Group and the Positive Effect on Hospital Hand Hygiene
November 21st 2024The Leapfrog Group enhances hospital safety by publicizing hand hygiene performance, improving patient safety outcomes, and significantly reducing health care-associated infections through transparent standards and monitoring initiatives.
The Importance of Hand Hygiene in Clostridioides difficile Reduction
November 18th 2024Clostridioides difficile infections burden US healthcare. Electronic Hand Hygiene Monitoring (EHHMS) systems remind for soap and water. This study evaluates EHHMS effectiveness by comparing C difficile cases in 10 hospitals with CMS data, linking EHHMS use to reduced cases.