Clinicians who work in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), operating
room (OR), and intensive care unit (ICU) have a greater opportunity
to cross-contaminate patients because of high workloads and frequent
patient contact events. Much progress has been made to increase hand hygiene
compliance with the introduction of alcohol-based wall, bedside,
and pocket dispensers. The introduction of body-worn alcohol-based
dispensers to anesthesia and ICU providers has been shown to decrease
ICU hospital-acquired infections and ventilator-associated pneumonias,
and decrease contamination of the anesthesia workplace. Body-worn
alcohol-based dispensers are an improvement in ergonomics, especially
for those working in high intensity areas. The unit worn on the belt or
scrubs waist is readily accessible, can be activated with one hand, and
can be a vital tool to close the gap for hand hygiene.