In the observational study emergency medical service (EMS) employees were observed during seven differing hygiene measures by randomly selected EMS employees. Furthermore, a checklist was used to determine whether alcohol-based hand disinfectants, gloves, gowns and eye protection was available in the ambulance and in the emergency backpack. A total of 168 employees participated in the study: 123 nurses and 45 EMTs. 71 observations were carried out in 21 ambulances; 68 of these observations were analysed.
The study showed that only two of the observed employees (3 %) properly adhered to the seven observed hygiene measures. Compliance with hand disinfection was 34 % before and 72 % after touching a patient. Gloves were correctly used in 69 % of the situations, gowns in 91 %. However, short-sleeved uniforms were only used in 28 % of the observations. Correct adherence to the rule not to wear rings, watches or bracelets was observed in 74 % of the situations. Hair was short or tied back in 91 % of the observations.
The checklists showed that hand disinfectants, gloves and gowns were available in all ambulances. Eye protection was available in approx. 90 % of the ambulances. Hand disinfectants were available in almost every fifth backpack, gloves in every second.
The hygiene compliance in EMS varies very much depending on the hygiene measure (only 3 % compliant for all seven hygiene measures). The analysis of the checklists reveals that the access to the respective equipment was limited outside the ambulance, which may have a negative influence on the compliance.