Hand hygiene refers to removing or killing microorganisms on the hands and is one of the most effective measures to prevent the spread of infections. There are serious health implications and financial costs associated with healthcare associated infections (HAIs), which makes hand hygiene a priority.
Excuses for bad hand hygiene include health care workers being too busy, skin irritations, the use of gloves, and simply forgetting.
It takes less than 60 seconds to clean your hands!
There are two methods of proper hand hygiene. Handwashing should be used when hands are visibly soiled. Handwashing takes less than 60 seconds when using soap and water. Alcohol-based hand rubs only require less than 30 seconds and can be used when hands are not visibly soiled. Both methods are equally effective for proper hand hygiene.
Standards & Guidelines
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Hand Hygiene Campaigns
Clean Hands Campaign
The initiative is sponsored by the American Society for Microbiology to spread awareness about handwashing.
Just Clean Your Hands
The Ontario Ministry of Health of Long-Term Care’s provincial hand hygiene improvement program for hospitals.
Save Lives: Clean Your Hands
The World Health Organization is celebrating its second global movement day on May 5, 2010 with a call to action to health-care workers around world. The goal is to have 10,000 hospitals register for the initiative to reduce health care-associated infections (HAI).
“STOP! Clean your hands” Canada’s Hand Hygiene Campaign
Canada’s Hand Hygiene Campaign is a partnership between the Canadian Patient Safety Institute (CPSI), the Community and Hospital Infection Control Association - Canada (CHICA), Accreditation Canada, and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). The campaign supplements and integrates existing initiatives throughout Canada.
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Health Authority Pages
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