Running head: PICOT
1
PICOT: Use of Chlorhexidine Disinfectants to Reduce Nosocomial Infection in the ICU
Student's Name
Course
Institution
Date
, PICOT 2
PICOT: Use of Chlorhexidine Disinfectants to Reduce Nosocomial Infection in the ICU
The presence of nosocomial infections in the ICU has been recognized as a huge health
problem. Hospital acquired infections are passed on from healthcare providers, such as nurses, to
patients or from the patient to the healthcare giver. In most instances, poor hand hygiene is at the
center of the spread of nosocomial infections. These infections subject vulnerable patients to the
risk of health complications that increase the burden of care by prolonging recovery and hospital
stay (Haverstick et al., 2017). Handwashing using water and soap has been advocated by
Haverstick et al. (2017), whose study found that there was a relationship between hand washing
and a decrease in nosocomial infections, Moreover, the outcomes were improved in patients who
were educated on the need for observing hand hygiene. Nosocomial infections in the ICU was
selected as the problem of interest for this paper because even though numerous initiatives have
been put in place to prevent these infections, incidences of hospital-acquired infections are still
being reported in various hospitals (Popp, Layon, Nappo, Richards, & Mozingo, 2014). Among
the strategies that have been employed to lower incidences of nosocomial infections are the
implementation of handwashing protocol and educating the nurses (Climo et al., 2013). In
particular, the use chlorhexidine prior to a surgical operation can help in reducing infections at
the surgical site (Duszyńska, 2017). Moreover, the practice of handwashing using alcohol-based
disinfectants has been advocated as a guideline for preventing nosocomial infections.
According to MacFarlane et al. (2015), antiseptic hand rubs are the gold standard for
eradicating nosocomial infections. Duszyńska et al. (2017) also argue that chlorhexidine is
highly effective in the decolonization of pathogenic microorganisms in intensive care patients.
These findings underline the effectiveness of antiseptics and disinfectants in the prevention of
hospital-acquired infections. In fact, Jabbar et al. (2010) confirmed that alcohol-based hand rubs
1
PICOT: Use of Chlorhexidine Disinfectants to Reduce Nosocomial Infection in the ICU
Student's Name
Course
Institution
Date
, PICOT 2
PICOT: Use of Chlorhexidine Disinfectants to Reduce Nosocomial Infection in the ICU
The presence of nosocomial infections in the ICU has been recognized as a huge health
problem. Hospital acquired infections are passed on from healthcare providers, such as nurses, to
patients or from the patient to the healthcare giver. In most instances, poor hand hygiene is at the
center of the spread of nosocomial infections. These infections subject vulnerable patients to the
risk of health complications that increase the burden of care by prolonging recovery and hospital
stay (Haverstick et al., 2017). Handwashing using water and soap has been advocated by
Haverstick et al. (2017), whose study found that there was a relationship between hand washing
and a decrease in nosocomial infections, Moreover, the outcomes were improved in patients who
were educated on the need for observing hand hygiene. Nosocomial infections in the ICU was
selected as the problem of interest for this paper because even though numerous initiatives have
been put in place to prevent these infections, incidences of hospital-acquired infections are still
being reported in various hospitals (Popp, Layon, Nappo, Richards, & Mozingo, 2014). Among
the strategies that have been employed to lower incidences of nosocomial infections are the
implementation of handwashing protocol and educating the nurses (Climo et al., 2013). In
particular, the use chlorhexidine prior to a surgical operation can help in reducing infections at
the surgical site (Duszyńska, 2017). Moreover, the practice of handwashing using alcohol-based
disinfectants has been advocated as a guideline for preventing nosocomial infections.
According to MacFarlane et al. (2015), antiseptic hand rubs are the gold standard for
eradicating nosocomial infections. Duszyńska et al. (2017) also argue that chlorhexidine is
highly effective in the decolonization of pathogenic microorganisms in intensive care patients.
These findings underline the effectiveness of antiseptics and disinfectants in the prevention of
hospital-acquired infections. In fact, Jabbar et al. (2010) confirmed that alcohol-based hand rubs
