Hand rubbing with alcohol-based solutions is essential to prevent the spread of infection
Healthcare-associated infections affect health systems every day and pose a constant threat to patients
Every 5 May, the World Health Organisation celebrates World Hand Hygiene Day to raise awareness among all healthcare professionals of the importance of this practice
The Hand Hygiene Improvement Group at Parc Sanitari SJD gives out alcohol-based hand sanitiser on the Hospital's inpatient wards as a preventive measure
Rubbing your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser after direct contact with patients is the most effective way to prevent hands from spreading infection in healthcare settings. This is one of the key messages of World Hand Hygiene Day, which the World Health Organisation (WHO) celebrates every 5 May, and is backed by the highest level of scientific evidence (Grade Ia) according to the WHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Several studies have shown that hands are one of the main vectors for the transmission of infections. This transmission can take place either through contamination of surfaces which subsequently come into contact with patients, or through direct contact with contaminated surfaces or objects followed by contact with patients when proper hygiene has not been performed beforehand.
Healthcare-associated infections affect health systems every day and pose a constant threat to patients in all healthcare facilities. The most significant consequences of healthcare professionals failing to perform proper hand hygiene include antimicrobial resistance, higher healthcare costs and an increase in premature deaths.
Under the slogan "SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands – Action Saves Lives”, the WHO celebrates this day to raise awareness and engage both healthcare professionals and also healthcare facility directors and managers in the prevention of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
All healthcare professionals or service providers, along with anyone involved directly or indirectly in patient care, need to practice good hand hygiene and be able to do it properly at the right time.
To underscore the significance of this initiative, the Parc Sanitari SJD Hand Hygiene Improvement Group will be distributing alcohol-based hand sanitiser in the Hospital’s inpatient wards today and showing staff, patients and their families the correct way to clean their hands.
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