The National Hand Hygiene Initiative

The importance of correct hand hygiene in limiting the transmission of microorganisms in the healthcare setting is well documented; however healthcare workers routinely perform hand hygiene less frequently than indicated.

The National Hand Hygiene Initiative (NHHI), developed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare links WA Health’s existing hand hygiene program to a national strategy to improve Australian healthcare worker hand hygiene practices and reduce the risk of healthcare associated infections (HAIs).

The NHHI recognises the importance of a multimodal approach to successfully improve hand hygiene behaviour, including:

• Increasing healthcare worker access to hand hygiene agents
• Providing ongoing training and education
• Regular auditing of HCW practice and the prompt feedback of performance
• Workplace reminders
• The importance of individual and institutional participation in changing attitudes and beliefs

The WA Department of Health supports the NHHI as a first step in generating nationwide hand hygiene culture change – acknowledging the importance of individuals and institutions in getting hand hygiene right for every patient, every time.

Hand Hygiene Australia

Hand hygiene Australia is the body responsible for coordinating the NHHI. Resources and information can be accessed at Hand Hygiene Australia

Poster resources

Posters and logos developed for the National Hand Hygiene Initiative, and those developed by the Infections and Immunology Health Network in conjunction with the Office of Safety and Quality in Healthcare are available for download here:

How to Hand Rub-Wash combined poster (PDF 643kB)

How to Hand Rub poster (PDF 426kB)
 
How to Hand Wash poster (PDF 893kB)
 
HEAL 0006 poster (PDF 60kB)

HEAL 0007 poster (PDF 62kB)

HEAL 0010 poster (PDF 65kB)

HHA Aussie 5 Moments (PDF 2.32MB)

Clean Hands (JPEG 83KB)

HHA audit tool

All states and territories participating in the NHHI have endorsed a standard audit tool (PDF 65kB) to assess healthcare worker hand hygiene practices.

The World Health Organisation Global Patient Safety Challenge

The NHHI draws on the extensive work of the World Health Organisation (WHO). The WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Healthcare and associated Guide to Implementation provide a comprehensive review of scientific data on hand hygiene and the components of successful improvement programs. The publications can be accessed at the WHO Information Centre