Irvin A. Sosa-Farias, División de investigación en Salud, Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla, Puebla, Pue., México
José de J. Méndez-Castro, División de investigación en Salud, Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla, Puebla, Pue., México
Edith C. Hernández-Román, Coordinación de Cursos de Enfermería, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Puebla, Pue., México
Israel Aguilar-Cozatl, Coordinación Clínica de Educación en Salud, Hospital General de Zona No. 20, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Puebla, Pue., México
Socorro Méndez-Martínez, Órgano de Operación Administrativa Desconcentrada Estatal Puebla, Coordinación de Planeación y Enlace Institucional, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Puebla, Pue., México
Máximo A. García-Flores, Órgano de Operación Administrativa Desconcentrada Estatal Puebla, Coordinación de Planeación y Enlace Institucional, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Puebla, Pue., México
Jorge Ayón-Aguilar, Órgano de Operación Administrativa Desconcentrada Estatal Puebla, Coordinación de Planeación y Enlace Institucional, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Puebla, Pue., México
Luis E. Gutiérrez-Chablé, Departamento de Epidemiología, Hospital General de Zona No. 20, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Puebla, Pue., México
Introduction: Hand hygiene is a fundamental measure in preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), yet adherence remains low in various clinical settings. This deficiency poses a significant risk to patient safety and public health. Objective: To identify interventions that strengthen hand hygiene adherence among healthcare personnel. Method: A narrative review was conducted of scientific articles published between 2019 and 2024 in PubMed and Google Scholar. Free, full-text studies in Spanish and English were included, regardless of methodological design. Interventions applied in hospital settings were considered, excluding pharmacological or non-clinical approaches. Strategies were classified as direct (observation, feedback, monitoring) and indirect (education, motivation, self-reporting). Results: Of the 69 articles reviewed, 19 met the inclusion criteria. Direct interventions increased adherence by 21.7% and reduced HAIs by 8.8%. Indirect strategies showed improvements ranging from 22 to 51.3%. Electronic monitoring enabled real-time detection of noncompliance, achieving adherence rates up to 67%. Conclusions: Direct interventions strengthen immediate adherence, while indirect ones support long-term behavioral change. Their combination promotes sustained practices and significantly reduces HAIs.
Keywords: Hand hygiene. Hand disinfection. Health strategies. Cross infection. Preventive health services. Epidemiology.