Mrs Kylie Snook1
1Monash Health, Australia
Biography:
Kylie is an infection prevention and control nurse consultant with over 15 years of experience. Holding a Graduate Certificate in Infection Prevention and Control and a Master of Public Health, she is passionate about translating evidence into practical IPC solutions that make a real difference.
Abstract:
Background/Problem
The Clayton Imaging Department is a large, multi-modality service spanning nearly 200 staff across X-ray, CT, MRI, angiography, and fluoroscopy, supporting three tertiary hospitals. In December 2024, hand hygiene (HH) compliance averaged approximately 60%. Given the scale of the service, only three trained HH auditors were available, insufficient to meet required monthly audit moments or drive engagement across all modalities. Overall participation in HH practices among clinical imaging staff was limited.
Methods
Throughout 2025, the department prioritised improving HH compliance, accountability, and audit compliance by increasing the number of trained auditors and broadening representation across modalities. The Infection Prevention team partnered with modality leads to undertake HH process mapping for common imaging procedures, contextualising expectations within real clinical workflows. Lead educators then coordinated a HH poster competition, inviting teams to design procedure specific posters illustrating when and where HH should be performed. The initiative generated strong participation and several high-quality submissions.
Results
HH compliance improved progressively throughout the year, with sustained rates exceeding 80%, approaching the state benchmark of 85%. Increased auditor presence strengthened data capture and accountability, while co-designed resources enhanced staff understanding of HH requirements in local context. The poster initiative fostered strong engagement and ownership across teams.
Conclusions and Lessons Learnt
Tailoring HH expectations to clinical workflows and empowering local champions are key drivers of behaviour change. This initiative demonstrates a practical, collaborative model for improving HH performance in large, complex clinical environments. Future work will focus on sustaining compliance and achieving the 85% benchmark.