Montreal Doctors Get Slapped on the Hand

MONTREAL-An internal study at a hospital of the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal has found that fewer than one in four doctors wash their hands and wear gloves when examining patients.

The study's author, Vivian Loo, MD, director of infection control at the McGill institution said most Canadian and American hospitals are facing the same problem.

Nurses are also not following protocol. The study showed that 40% were washing their hands to protect patients from antibiotic-resistant germs.

Although Loo would not reveal the hospital where she conducted her study, she said that it is within the university health center and has 450 beds. After her report, healthcare officials placed alcohol hand-hygiene dispensers in all patient rooms for doctor and nurse use.

Information from The Canadian Press