Table 2.
Summary of before-after studies
| # | Study | WASH intervention component | WASH only/combined intervention | Reduction in any HCAI |
| 1 | Abramczyk, 2011 |
Education on catheter hub disinfection | Combined | ✗ |
| 2 | Allegranzi, 2018 |
Education on hand hygiene and aseptic patient-care techniques. Provision of antiseptic soaps to patients | Combined | ✓ |
| 3 | Alp, 2014 |
Education on hand hygiene. Provision of hand basins, alcohol-based hand rub, and antiseptic soap. Daily chlorhexidine bathing of patients | Combined | ✓ |
| 4 | Alvarez-Moreno, 2016 | Education on hand hygiene and aseptic techniques | Combined | ✓ |
| 5 | Apisarnthanarak, 2014 | Education on hand hygiene. Disinfection of environment, patient bathing and oral hygiene with chlorhexidine | Combined | ✓ |
| 6 | Apisarnthanarak, 2010 | Education on hand hygiene and aseptic techniques. Provision of alcohol-based hand rub dispensers | Combined | ✓ |
| 7 | Azab, 2015 |
Education on hand hygiene. Sterilisation of equipment and antiseptic oral cleaning of patients | Combined | ✓ |
| 8 | Guanche-Garcell, 2013 | Education on hand hygiene. Antiseptic oral cleaning of patients. Hand hygiene compliance monitoring | Combined | ✓ |
| 9 | Jagi, 2013 |
Education on hand hygiene. Provision of chlorhexidine for skin preparation. Sterilisation of medical equipment | Combined | ✓ |
| 10 | Kurlat, 1998 |
Education on hand hygiene and sterilisation | Combined | ✓ |
| 11 | Leblebicioglu, 2013 | Education on hand hygiene. Disinfection of skin and equipment | Combined | ✓ |
| 12 | Leblebicioglu, 2013 | Education on hand hygiene. Disinfection of skin and equipment. Daily bathing with chlorhexidine | Combined | ✓ |
| 13 | Leblebicioglu, 2013 | Education on hand hygiene. Disinfection of skin and equipment. Patient oral care with antiseptic solution | Combined | ✓ |
| 14 | Lenz, 2018 |
Education on hand hygiene | Combined | ✓ |
| 15 | Marra, 2010 |
Education on hand hygiene. Disinfection of skin and equipment. Hand hygiene compliance monitoring | Combined | ✓ |
| 16 | Mehta, 2013 |
Education on hand hygiene. Antiseptic oral cleaning of patients | Combined | ✓ |
| 17 | Murni, 2015 |
Education on hand hygiene | Combined | ✓ |
| 18 | Navoa, 2013 |
Education on hand hygiene. Sterilisation of skin and equipment | Combined | ✓ |
| 19 | Ng Y.Y, 2015 |
Education on hand hygiene and aseptic techniques | WASH only | ✓ |
| 20 | Ogwang, 2013 |
Education on hand hygiene. Skin and equipment disinfection | Combined | ✓ |
| 21 | Rosenthal, 2006 |
Education on hand hygiene | Combined | ✓ |
| 22 | Rosenthal, 2005 |
Education on hand hygiene | WASH only | ✓ |
| 23 | Rosenthal, 2012 |
Education on hand hygiene. Disinfection of skin and equipment | Combined | ✓ |
| 24 | Rosenthal, 2012 |
Education on hand hygiene. Disinfection of skin and equipment | Combined | ✓ |
| 25 | Von Dolinger de Brito, 2007 | Provision of sinks, automated taps, paper towels and chlorhexidine dispensers for hand cleaning | Combined | ✓ |
| 26 | Zhou, 2015 |
Education on hand hygiene and sterile techniques. Easily accessible positioning of handwashing and hand disinfection facilities | Combined | ✓ |
| 27 | Zhou, 2013 |
Education on hand hygiene and waste segregation (separating normal and infectious waste). Ventilator disinfection | Combined | ✓ |
HCAI, healthcare-associated infection; WASH, water, sanitation and hygiene.