Patient Safety & Quality Improvement USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A hospital implements a new hand hygiene monitoring system using electronic sensors at alcohol-based hand rub dispensers. After 6 months, the data show that hand hygiene compliance has increased from 55% to 88%. However, the rate of healthcare-associated infections has not decreased. Which of the following is the most likely explanation?
Answer choices
- AThe electronic monitoring system is inaccurate
- BThe sample size is too small to detect a difference in infection rates
- CThe infections are caused by organisms resistant to alcohol-based hand rub
- DHand hygiene is not an effective method for preventing healthcare-associated infections
- EHealthcare workers are activating dispensers without properly cleaning their handsCorrect answer
- FThe healthcare-associated infections are predominantly transmitted through routes other than direct hand contact
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