Practicing hand hygiene is a simple yet effective way to prevent infections. Cleaning hands can prevent the spread of germs, including those that are resistant to antibiotics and are becoming difficult, if not impossible, to treat. Unfortunately, on average, healthcare providers clean their hands less than half of the time they should.1 According to the Centers for Disease Control, on any given day, about one in 31 hospital patients has at least one healthcare-associated infection.2 Transmission of healthcare-associated pathogens most often occurs via the contaminated hands of healthcare workers. Accordingly, hand hygiene (i.e. hand washing with soap and water or use of a waterless, alcohol-based hand rub) has long been considered one of the most important infection control measures for preventing hospital associated infection (HAI). Please read more about the importance of hand hygiene, the components of a recommended best practice program and the positive impact of consistent application in clinical practice.
