Each sub-unit has two conveniently located hand
washing sinks. Healthcare professionals wash their hands
with plain soap first only when these are visibly soiled.
They are required, however, to rub hands with hand
alcohol solution as a standard procedure before and after
patient contact activities (Boyce and Pittet, 2002). To this
aim dispensers are available at each bed, delivering an
alcohol-based solution with ethanol 80% (Baktosept E,
Bode Chemie GmbH & Co., Hamburg, Germany) at a
maximum volume of 1.8 mL per actuation. The manufacturer
recommends a drying time of 30 s. The hospital
infection control guideline states that rings, wristwatches,
and bracelets should be removed on entering the unit.
Healthcare worker uniform policies also recommend the
wearing of short sleeves.