WHO: Patient Participation Can Improve Health Workers' Hand Hygiene

Sabrina Rodak -

More than half of healthcare-associated infections can be prevented by proper hand hygiene by caregivers, according to the World Health Organization.

Hand Hygiene Day was May 5. The WHO promotes hand hygiene at five critical moments through its campaign, "Save Lives: Clean Your Hands," which more than 15,700 health facilities in 168 countries have committed to. The WHO also encourages patients and families to participate in hand hygiene at healthcare facilities.


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A new survey by WHO and its Collaborating Centre on Patient Safety at the University of Geneva Hospitals found patient participation is useful in improving hand hygiene and creating a positive patient safety climate, according to the news release. Patients and families can participate in hand hygiene by asking for information about existing initiatives that involve patients at the health facility and asking healthcare workers to wash their hands before touching them, then thanking workers when they do, according to the release.

More Articles on Hand Hygiene:

Study: Better Hand Hygiene Didn't Alter C. diff, MRSA Rates
5 Strategies for Staff Engagement in Hand Hygiene

4 Elements of Successful Hand Hygiene Education

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