Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) remain a critical challenge for patient safety and public health worldwide. This study evaluated the impact of structured hand hygiene interventions on HAI rates in three tertiary care hospitals. A quasi-experimental design was employed, involving 2,500 healthcare workers over 12 months. Interventions included educational workshops, visual reminders, and regular audits with feedback. HAI incidence data were collected from infection control records. Results demonstrated a significant reduction in overall HAI rates, from 12.8% to 7.4% (p < 0.001), with the greatest decline observed in catheter-associated urinary tract infections and central line-associated bloodstream infections. Compliance with hand hygiene practices increased from 56% to 89% among healthcare workers. The study highlights that multifaceted hand hygiene strategies are highly effective in reducing HAIs and emphasizes the need for sustained institutional commitment and continuous monitoring to maintain compliance.

Keywords:
Hand hygiene, hospital-acquired infections, infection control, patient safety, public health