The observational study was conducted in an intensive care unit of the University Hospital Aachen, Germany. During an initial 8-week baseline phase, the consumption of hand disinfectant was assessed by common dosing dispensers equipped with electronic counters. After this phase, all disinfectant dispensers were replaced by sensor-controlled dispensers with integrated counters. During the subsequent study phase (12 weeks), the consumption was again monitored. An average of 34 hand disinfection procedures per patient day were carried out during the baseline phase. After the introduction of the touchless dispensers, the number of hand disinfections increased by 53 % to 52 hand disinfection procedures per patient day. Near-patient dispensers were used twice as much as those installed in corridors. The increased consumption remained constant over the entire 12-week observation period.