Every day, thousands of people worldwide die from nosocomial (healthcare-associated) infections—infections acquired while receiving medical care. Among the leading causes of their spread are the hands of healthcare providers, which can easily transfer germs between patients and environments. Proper hand hygiene remains the single most effective way to prevent infection transmission and control the spread of these infections in healthcare settings. Any healthcare worker, caregiver, or individual involved in direct or indirect patient care must be diligent about hand hygiene—performing it correctly and at the right time.
This article is based on the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for hand hygiene in healthcare. How Should Hands Be Cleaned? Use an alcohol-based hand rub for routine hand antisepsis when hands are not visibly dirty. It is faster, more effective, and better…
