While for a lot of people keeping their hands clean might seem to be something a bit on the optional side, things change radically in the healthcare system, where hand washing is vital in order to maintain a very good level of hygiene. To help healthcare workers maintain their hands clean at all times, researchers from the University of Florida have managed to develop a very interesting system called HyGreen.

As a news release on the University's website informs us, the HyGreen system is apparently able to detect sanitizer or soap fumes given off by the users' hands. The healthcare worker squirts sanitizer gel or soap into his or her hand before passing it under a wall-mounted sensor.

A wireless signal from a badge worn by the worker activates a green light on the hand-washing sensor. When the worker enters a patient room, a monitor near the bed detects the status of the badge, and flashes green if the person has clean hands. If the person has not washed, or too much time has passed between washing and approaching the patient, the badge will give a gentle “reminder” vibration.

Furthermore, the system can log down to the second the frequency of hand cleaning and contact with patients in a database that clinical supervisors can review immediately.

“This isn’t big brother, this is just another tool,” said Dr. Richard J. Melker, a UF College of Medicine anesthesiology professor who developed the technology along with professors Dr. Donn Dennis, and Dr. Nikolaus Gravenstein, of the anesthesiology department, and Christopher Batich, a materials science professor in the College of Engineering. “A hospital worker never wants to be responsible for someone getting sick or dying from an infection acquired in the hospital.”

This system is currently undergoing field trials at the Neuro Intensive Care Unit at Shands at UF medical center and will be presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology June 6-9 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Of course, it remains to be seen just how soon the HyGreen system will become widespread, but we certainly hope that it's sooner rather than later.


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