Using a qualitative study to understand the failure of a strategy implemented for improving hand hygiene adherence in 4 intensive care units

摘要

To the Editor-The strategy of active detection and isolation of patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection has a number of adverse unintended consequences and raises ethical concerns. Concurrently, certain studies have questioned the effectiveness of associating the screening of carriers and the implementation of contact precautions. Although there are some arguments to support a policy of strict application of standard precautions to control MRSA, the low compliance with hand hygiene reported in most studies constitutes what is probably a major barrier against the effectiveness of this policy.