Hand hygiene protects both healthcare personnel and patients. Hand hygiene means:
· Handwashing with soap and water (e.g., plain soap or with an antiseptic).
· Antiseptic hand rub (alcohol-based foam or gel hand sanitizer).
· Surgical hand antisepsis.
Cleaning your hands reduces:
· The potential spread of deadly germs to patients.
· The spread of germs, including those resistant to antibiotics.
· The risk of colonization or infection from germs received from the patient.
Hands should be cleaned:
· Immediately before and after patient interaction
· Before, during, and after preparing food or eating
· Before and after treating or touching a cut or wound
· After using the toilet
· After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
· After touching hospital surfaces (elevator buttons or door handles etc)
· After handling garbage