An audit by the health safety body HIQA has found that poor hand hygiene practices at Dublin's St James's Hospital pose a risk to patients.

HIQA, in a new inspection report, said while the hospital had implemented initiatives to improve hand hygiene compliance, 'this was not operationally embedded'.

Inspection reports on St Columcille's Hospital, Loughlinstown, the Eye and Ear Hospital in Dublin, Kerry General Hospital, Tralee and Letterkenny General Hospital also found deficits in hand hygiene practice.

The hygiene inspection on Letterkenny was carried out before the recent flooding which did serious damage to the hospital.