Functional dependence as a contributing factor for patient hand contamination by multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs) in acute care

A study examining the correlation between patient functional dependence and hand contamination with multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs) in acute-care settings found that patients with severe functional dependence were more likely to harbor MDROs on their hands and less likely to be able to cleanse them independently. The study also found that environmental contamination with MRSA was associated with patient function. The findings suggest that patient hand hygiene interventions should target this high-risk group for improved patient health.