Hand Hygiene
person involved in direct or indirect patient
• Thousands of people die every day around
the world from infections acquired while
receiving health care.
• Hands are the main pathways of germ
transmission during health care.
• Hand hygiene is therefore the most
important measure to avoid the transmission
of harmful germs and prevent health care-
associated infections.
• This explains how and when to practice
hand hygiene.
• Any health-care worker, caregiver or soiled with blood or other body fluids or
after using the toilet.
care needs to be concerned about hand
hygiene and should be able to perform it • If exposure to potential spore-forming
correctly and at the right time. pathogens is strongly suspected or proven,
including outbreaks of Clostridium difficile,
• Clean your hands by rubbing them with an hand washing with soap and water is the
alcohol-based formulation, as the preferred preferred means.
mean for routine hygienic hand antisepsis if
hands are not visibly soiled. It is faster, more
effective, and better tolerated by your hands
than washing with soap and water.
• Wash your hands with soap and water
when hands are visibly dirty or visibly
When to wash your hands Hand Hygiene
You should wash your hands properly
and often, especially:

 before, during and after

preparing food
 after going to the toilet or
changing a nappy
 after you blow your nose,
sneeze or cough
 when your hands are visibly
dirty
 after smoking
 after handling or patting
animals
 before and after taking care of
someone who is sick

 When you enter and leave a

healthcare facility.
 touching garbage

handwashing Prepared by:

must last 40– BSN 44-A
60 secs. Easter College

Reference:

http://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/
Hand_Hygiene_Why_How_and
_When_Brochure.pdf