Introduction: Hospital-Acquired Infections (HAIs) are estimated to cause around 6400 deaths per year in Spain. Hand hygiene remains a challenge in most healthcare facilities, although it has been proven that there is an essential tool to prevent related harm. The implementation of technological auditing tools in healthcare settings aims to enhance the accuracy and frequency of hand hygiene observations. This study evaluates the impact of a new auditing tool (MEG) on hand hygiene adherence rates among healthcare workers by comparing data collected before and after its implementation.

Methods: We analysed hand hygiene adherence data from 2019 to 2023, focusing on observations made at a Spanish private hospital. Hand hygiene adherence rates were calculated as the percentage of hand hygiene opportunities that were correctly followed. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were used to assess the significance of changes in adherence rates before (2019-2021) and after (2022-2023) the tool's implementation.

Results: Prior to the implementation of the auditing tool (2019-2021), the mean hand hygiene adherence rate was 56.4% (95% CI 46.30% - 65.96%). Following its implementation (2022-2023), the adherence rate decreased to 42.5% (95% CI 40.18% - 44.88%). Statistical analysis using a Chi-square test indicated that this decrease was statistically significant (Pearson Chi-Square=6.982, df=1 P=0.010), suggesting a notable change in recorded adherence rates.

Conclusions: The implementation of the auditing tool resulted in a statistically significant decrease in hand hygiene adherence rates. This may indicate improved accuracy in capturing non-compliance, thus providing a more realistic assessment of hand hygiene practices. These findings highlight the importance of utilizing advanced auditing tools to obtain precise data, ultimately enhancing infection control measures.