Focusing on Families and Visitors Reduces Healthcare Associated Respiratory Viral Infections in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Linam, W. Matthew; Marrero, Elizabeth M.; Honeycutt, Michele D.; Wisdom, Christy M.; Gaspar, Anna; Vijayan, Vini

Family and Visitor Hand Hygiene. Before the formal start of the project to reduce HARVIs, a pilot project to improve FVHH was initiated in 3 pods in the NICU in October 2015. NICU nurses measured FVHH behavior by using a standardized paper observation tool. Interventions included education of nursing staff on the importance of FVHH. Signs were placed over the sinks at the entrance to the NICU as well as at the entrance to each NICU pod and highlighted the importance of performing hand hygiene immediately before touching their child. Nurses were encouraged to intervene and remind families and visitors to perform hand hygiene. This intervention was facilitated by providing a standardized tool and scripting for nursing staff (Supplemental Digital Content at http://links.lww.com/PQ9/A146 for FVHH Audit Tool).