Improving hand hygiene in community healthcare settings: the impact of research and clinical collaboration.

This study indicates the considerable scope for cross infection during home visits. Hand hygiene was generally more difficult to undertake safely in patients' homes than in community clinics. Poor conditions in patients' homes were an important contributory factor. An audit of hand hygiene throughout the inner city trust indicated the need to pay greater attention to hand hygiene, especially during home nursing visits. Journal of Clinical Nursing 2000;9:95-102.