Highlights:
World Hand Hygiene Day is an annual event
marked on 5th May. The day observed by the World Health Organization
(WHO), focuses on the importance of hand hygiene in healthcare. The theme
for this year's World Hand Hygiene Day is 'Fight Antibiotic Resistance - It's
in your Hands.' The theme emphasizes the importance of washing hands to
prevent infection and antibiotic resistance.
- World Hand Hygiene Day emphasizes the importance of hand washing to fight antibiotic resistance
- ‘Fight Antibiotic Resistance - It's in your Hands' is the theme for World Hand Hygiene Day
- Hand hygiene is important to prevent the spread of infection-causing germs in healthcare facilities
Importance of Hand Hygiene
Most of the infections and diseases are caused by germs that spread by people's actions. One simple, yet effective way to prevent the spread of infection is by maintaining good hand hygiene. A simple change in behavior such as washing hands regularly can reduce the spread of infections and save the lives of millions.
World Hand Washing Day 2015 - “Raise a Hand for Hygiene”
World Hand washing day is celebrated on October 15th each year. Know more about the benefits and importance of hand hygiene for overall health.
World Hand washing day is celebrated on October 15th each year. Know more about the benefits and importance of hand hygiene for overall health.
‘Adequate hand hygiene practices can reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections and antibiotic resistance.’
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The WHO calls on countries and healthcare
facilities to strengthen infection prevention and control programs based on the
WHO guidelines. One of the core components of infection prevention and
control is hand hygiene, which plays an important role in combating
antimicrobial resistance. Hand Hygiene and Antibiotic Resistance
In the recent years, the global threat of antibiotic resistance has intensified. Antibiotic resistance occurs when a microorganism is no longer destroyed or stopped by antibiotic medications. Microbes have become resistant to almost all antibiotics in use. Thus, a simple act of keeping the hands germ-free can prevent the spread of resistant microbes that can be present on or in patients or the environment.
Study Claims Hand Washing Practices Low Among Healthcare Staff In India
Poor hand hygiene practices are a major threat to the health of the patients and doctors as infectious organisms survives for more than 8 hours if hands are not washed.
Poor hand hygiene practices are a major threat to the health of the patients and doctors as infectious organisms survives for more than 8 hours if hands are not washed.
Studies have shown that healthcare professionals clean their hands less than half of the times they should. Unclean hands increase the risk of healthcare-associated infections that affect one in 25 hospital patients. One in ten patients gets an infection while receiving treatment. Thirty-two percent of patients receiving surgical care suffer from post-operative infection.
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Internet-Based Hand Washing Program Shown To Reduce Spread Of Infections
When people wash their hands 10 times a day it would have an important effect on reducing the spread of bugs and infections and reduced their 'viral load'.
When people wash their hands 10 times a day it would have an important effect on reducing the spread of bugs and infections and reduced their 'viral load'.
Dr Fikri added, “Healthcare-associated infections cause harm that can be easily avoided. They also result in additional financial burden and sometimes even long-term disabilities or death. I urge all healthcare workers to ensure adequate hand hygiene and all healthcare facilities to commit to improving hand hygiene practices to help save more lives.”
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Hand Hygiene in the Emergency Department
Bed location and type of healthcare worker performing care result in poorer hand hygiene practice in the emergency department, finds study.
Bed location and type of healthcare worker performing care result in poorer hand hygiene practice in the emergency department, finds study.
- In high-income countries, healthcare-associated infections can affect at least seven out of every 100 hospitalized patients.
- In low and middle-income countries, healthcare-associated infections can affect 10 in every 100 hospitalized patients.
- In Intensive Care Unit, 30 out of 100 patients suffer from healthcare-associated infections.
- Before touching a patient
- Before cleaning and aseptic procedures such as inserting catheters
- After contact with body fluids
- After touching a patient
- After touching patient surroundings
Adequate hand hygiene can save eight million lives every year in hospitals alone. Remember, clean hands can make the healthcare facilities a safer place to receive and provide care.
References:
- SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands 5 May 2017 - (http://www.who.int/infection-prevention/campaigns/clean-hands/2017/en/)
- Clean Hands Count for Safe Healthcare - (https://www.cdc.gov/features/handhygiene/)
- Good hand hygiene by health workers protects patients from drug resistant infections - (http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2014/hand-hygiene/en/)
