Practicing hand hygiene is a simple yet effective way to prevent infections. Cleaning your hands can prevent the spread of germs, including those that are resistant to antibiotics and are becoming difficult, if not impossible, to treat. On average, healthcare providers clean their hands less than half of the times they should. On any given day, about one in 25 hospital patients has at least one healthcare-associated infection.
Today, May 5, is World Hand Hygiene Day, the World Health Organization’s annual global call to action for healthcare providers to practice hand hygiene appropriately.
As part of this year’s efforts, CDC has two new tools for healthcare providers: a Clean Hands Count video and a hand hygiene education course (coming May 22 – stay tuned!). The Clean Hands Count campaign offers brochures, fact sheets, posters, and infographics for patients and healthcare providers.
Here are a few things you can do to participate in World Hand Hygiene Day:
- Watch and share the new Clean Hands Count video YouTube link: https://youtu.be/MzkNSzqmUSY
- Order free Clean Hands Count print materials: stickers, brochures, factsheets, and posters by visiting: https://wwwn.cdc.gov/pubs/CDCInfoOnDemand.aspx?ProgramID=31. Note: CDC’s fulfillment house is able to process a limited number of orders each day. If you see that a particular material is temporarily unavailable, please try again another day. We apologize for any inconvenience.
- Spread the word. Start a conversation about why #CleanHandsCount for safe health care. Tell your coworkers, patients, family, and friends why clean hands count to prevent infections. We are all in this together.
For more information on our efforts to improve hand hygiene as a means for infection prevention, visit our Web site.