April 2026 Monthly Literature Search – Hand Hygiene
This month’s literature search examines recent research on effective hand hygiene, including techniques and resources, and reinforces its ongoing importance in healthcare settings.
Grey literature
Hand Hygiene Australia support the improvement of hand hygiene practices as a core strategy in the prevention of infection and the transmission of antimicrobial resistance https://hha.org.au/
Materials to support improved hand hygiene in Australia from the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/infection-prevention-and-control/national-hand-hygiene-initiative/materials-support-improved-hand-hygiene-australia-nhhi
What to do if a health care worker has dermatitis? https://www.occderm.asn.au/health-professionals/what-to-do-if-a-healthcare-worker-has-dermatitis/
National Hand Hygiene Initiative Implementation Guide https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/infection-prevention-and-control/national-hand-hygiene-initiative/national-hand-hygiene-initiative-manual
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines https://www.racgp.org.au/running-a-practice/practice-standards/racgp-infection-prevention-and-control-guidelines/2-hand-hygiene/role-of-hand-hygiene-in-infection-prevention-and-c
Full-text articles
Afework, A., & Tamene, A. (2025). Uncovering the obstacles: a comprehensive analysis of barriers to hand hygiene adherence among healthcare providers: a systematic review. BMC Infectious Diseases, 25(1), 502.
Bhattacharjee, S., & Bhattacharya, S. (2025). Leveraging AI-driven nudge theory to enhance hand hygiene compliance: paving the path for future infection control. Frontiers in Public Health, 12.
Blair, C.-J., McCrudden, C., Brazier, A., Huf, S., Gregory, A., O’Driscoll, F., Galletly, T., Leon-Villapalos, C., Brown, H., Clay, K., Maxwell, S., Anakwe, R., & Grailey, K. (2024). A helping hand: Applying behavioural science and co-design methodology to improve hand hygiene compliance in the hospital setting. PLOS ONE, 19(12), e0310768.
Boyce, J. M., & Pittet, D. (2024). Rinse, gel, and foam – is there any evidence for a difference in their effectiveness in preventing infections? Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control, 13(1), 49.
Boyce, M. W., Mathew, T. A., Roberts, S. C., Aniskiewicz, M., Krechevsky, K., Dahlberg, S., Frye, N., Trumpler, J. E., Evans, L. v., & Martinello, R. A. (2024). A human factors engineering approach to improving hand hygiene quality. Human Factors in Healthcare, 6, 100085.
Casaroto, E., Generoso, J. R., Serpa Neto, A., Prado, M., Gagliardi, G. M., de Menezes, F. G., Gonçalves, P., Hohmann, F. B., Olivato, G. B., Gonçalves, G. P., Xavier, N., Fernandes Miguel, M., Edmond, M. B., & Marra, A. R. (2022). Comparing human to electronic observers to monitor hand hygiene compliance in an intensive care unit. Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology, 2(1), e161.
Chen, N., Li, Y., He, W., Chen, X., Cheng, F., Cheng, X., Zhou, W., Tan, Y., Wu, W., Wu, L., Qiao, F., Feng, B., & Wang, Y. (2024). Clinical Effectiveness of a 3-Step Versus a 6-Step Hand Hygiene Technique: A Randomized Controlled Cross-over Study. Open Forum Infectious Diseases, 11(10).
de Kraker, M. E. A., Tartari, E., Tomczyk, S., Twyman, A., Francioli, L. C., Cassini, A., Allegranzi, B., & Pittet, D. (2022). Implementation of hand hygiene in health-care facilities: results from the WHO Hand Hygiene Self-Assessment Framework global survey 2019. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 22(6), 835–844.
Delicati, A., Marcante, B., Catelan, D., Biggeri, A., Caenazzo, L., & Tozzo, P. (2025). Hand-to-surface bacterial transfer and healthcare-associated infections prevention: a pilot study on skin microbiome in a molecular biology laboratory. Frontiers in Medicine, 12.
Garnier, A., Dubs, C., Haerder, C., Bonnabry, P., & Bouchoud, L. (2024). Game-based training to improve the compliance of hospital pharmacy operators with handwashing guidelines. Journal of Hospital Infection, 144, 137–143.
Gaube, S., Fischer, P., & Lermer, E. (2021). Hand(y) hygiene insights: Applying three theoretical models to investigate hospital patients’ and visitors’ hand hygiene behavior. PLOS ONE, 16(1), e0245543.
Gozdzielewska, L., McAloney-Kocaman, K., Lang, S., Ness, V., Lacey, G., & Reilly, J. (2025). Deconstructing the six-step hand rubbing technique for healthcare staff: a mixed-methods investigation of efficacy, acceptability and feasibility. Journal of Hospital Infection.
Kuti, B. P., Ogunlesi, T. A., Oduwole, O., Oringanje, C. C., Udoh, E. E., Bello, S., Horn, D., & Meremikwu, M. M. (2023). Hand hygiene for the prevention of infections in neonates. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2023(6).
Lambe, K., Lydon, S., McSharry, J., Byrne, M., Squires, J., Power, M., Domegan, C., & O’Connor, P. (2021). Identifying interventions to improve hand hygiene compliance in the intensive care unit through co-design with stakeholders. HRB Open Research, 4, 64.
Price, L., Gozdzielewska, L., Matuluko, A., Pittet, D., Allegranzi, B., & Reilly, J. (2022). Comparing the effectiveness of hand hygiene techniques in reducing the microbial load and covering hand surfaces in healthcare workers: Updated systematic review. American Journal of Infection Control, 50(10), 1079–1090.
Rosenfeldt Knudsen, A., Bo Hansen, M., & Kjølseth Møller, J. (2023). Individual hand hygiene improvements and effects on healthcare-associated infections: a long-term follow-up study using an electronic hand hygiene monitoring system. Journal of Hospital Infection, 135, 179–185.
Speth, J. (2023). Guidelines in Practice: Hand Hygiene. AORN Journal, 118(2), 101–108.
Tartari, E., Storr, J., Bellare, N., Kilpatrick, C., McGuckin, M., Schwaber, M. J., Pittet, D., & Allegranzi, B. (2025). WHO research agenda on the role of the institutional safety climate for hand hygiene improvement: a Delphi consensus-building study. BMJ Quality & Safety, 34(9), 609–620.
Thom, K. A., Rock, C., Robinson, G. L., Reisinger, H. S., Baloh, J., Li, S., Diekema, D. J., Herwaldt, L. A., Johnson, J. K., Harris, A. D., & Perencevich, E. N. (2023). Direct Gloving vs Hand Hygiene Before Donning Gloves in Adherence to Hospital Infection Control Practices. JAMA Network Open, 6(10), e2336758.
Vilar-Compte, D., Garciadiego-Fossas, P., & Ibanes-Gutiérrez, C. (2025). Gloving in medicine: a boon for infection prevention or a hindrance? Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology, 5(1), e288.
Vodianyk, A., Shyrobokov, V., & Poniatovskyi, V. (2025). Evaluating the Effectiveness of the WHO 6-Step Hand Hygiene Technique: Impact of Step Omission and Duration on Microbial Reduction. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, Volume 18, 1591–1600.
Voniatis, C., Bánsághi, S., Veres, D. S., Szerémy, P., Jedlovszky-Hajdu, A., Szijártó, A., & Haidegger, T. (2023). Evidence-based hand hygiene: Liquid or gel handrub, does it matter? Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control, 12(1), 12.