New module uses RTLS to prompt hand sanitization before patient contact without requiring infrastructure changes.
Real-time location services (RTLS) provider Kontakt.io has launched a Universal Dispenser Module for its hand hygiene platform, designed to alert clinicians to sanitize before entering patient rooms regardless of the dispenser brand or model in use.
Healthcare-associated infections remain a persistent issue, affecting roughly one in 10 patients globally. In the United States, more than 680,000 cases occur annually in hospitals, contributing to over 70,000 deaths. The World Health Organization has estimated that investments in hand hygiene can significantly reduce treatment costs, though adoption challenges have limited widespread implementation.
Real-time Alerts at the Point of Care
The system uses real-time location system (RTLS) technology to detect when a clinician approaches a patient room and whether a dispenser has been used. If no hand hygiene event is recorded, an in-room alert prompts the clinician to sanitize before patient contact.
Studies of automated RTLS-based monitoring systems have shown compliance improvements of 25% or more, along with reductions in certain infections, including central line-associated bloodstream infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, and C. difficile cases.
Unlike manual observation, automated systems continuously track hand hygiene opportunities without influencing staff behavior.
Designed to Work with Existing Infrastructure
According to the company, the Universal Dispenser Module can be attached to both mechanical and automated dispensers without requiring facility upgrades or room closures. This is intended to address a common barrier for health systems managing multiple facilities with different equipment.
“The science has always been clear. What has held hospitals back is implementation friction,” says Rom Eizenberg, chief revenue officer at Kontakt.io, in a release. “By making our solution work with whatever dispensers a hospital already has, we’ve removed the most common reason not to act.”
In addition to hand hygiene monitoring, the platform includes tools for contact tracing, compliance tracking, and dispenser status monitoring to identify empty or malfunctioning units.
The module is part of Kontakt.io’s broader platform, which uses RTLS and connected devices to support applications such as asset tracking, staff safety, and patient flow management.
