Image of male nurse pushing senior woman in a wheelchair in nursing facility

The National Association Directors of Nursing Administration/Long Term Care (NADONA) is teaming up with a skin care company to explore the impact of hand sanitizers on infection rates in long-term care environments.

The study, which was announced at NADONA’s annual conference this week in Phoenix, will examine whether infection rates and infection-related hospitalizations decrease with the introduction of sanitizers and a hand hygiene education program. It also will look at how this two-pronged approach will affect caregiver and resident hand hygiene compliance. GOJO Industries Inc., maker of Purell, will provide hand sanitizer products and dispensers, along with educational materials, for the project. Facilities currently are being selected to take part in the study, which will begin in the fall.

Approximately 400 attendees and 100 exhibitors convened for the NADONA conference, which ends today. An array of education sessions was held on issues including infection control, Alzheimer’s disease, electronic health records and incontinence.