A study published this year by the University of Surrey in the UK has found that almost half of hospital restroom users do not wash their hands, a behavior that directly threatens patient safety.
Researchers used sensors installed on hospital toilets and sink pipes to discreetly monitor hand washing behavior. Their analysis of 2,636 flushes showed that 43.7 percent of users left restrooms without washing their hands. During certain weeks, this rate of noncompliance soared to 61.8 percent.
