Why is hand hygiene compliance still low after all the efforts in recent decades?
In recent years many parts of the world have seen major improvements in hand hygiene. However, there is still not enough access to clean water, not enough sinks or towels, not enough awareness of the central role played by hand hygiene, and not enough investment in a multifaceted approach to tackle the abysmally low levels of compliance. There are many factors which contribute to low compliance and these are listed on page 170 of the WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care (Advanced Draft). Whatever the reasons, even in resource-rich settings, compliance can be as low as zero percent, with compliance levels most frequently well below 40%.
