Hand hygiene is the procedure by which hands are made clean. This comprises the physical removal of visible dirt (often the term used is “soiled hands”), transient microorganisms and some of the resident hand microorganisms (both invisible to the naked eye).

Hand hygiene in healthcare institutions is done by washing hands in clean running tap water and plain liquid or antimicrobial soap or rubbing with an alcohol-based antiseptic.

Another special type of hand hygiene is surgical hand preparation.

Hand hygiene is the primary preventive measure against healthcare-associated infections (HAI), because transferring microorganisms via the hands of healthcare workers is the most frequent way of transmitting microorganisms in healthcare. Its effectiveness is enhanced by ensuring it is undertaken at ‘critical moments’ or indications for hand hygiene during care activities.

- Link to IC/HH Core competencies: Area 4 Infection control activities: Domain Elaborating infection control intervention ICA 1-2

Reference

• WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care. World Health Organization 2009 WHO/IER/PSP/2009.07http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2009/9789241597906_eng.pdf

FEM Contributors

• Smilja Kalenic
• Vladimir Prikazsky