The Journal of hospital infection
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Observational Study
Hand hygiene in intensive care units: a matter of time?
Healthcare-associated infections are a frequent threat to patient safety and cause significant disease burden. The most important single preventive measure is hand hygiene (HH). Barriers to adherence with HH recommendations include structural aspects, knowledge gaps, and organizational issues, especially a lack of time in daily routine. ⋯ Complying with guidelines is time-consuming. Sufficient time for HH should be considered in staff planning.