How often should hand hygiene be performed in healthcare settings?

Hand hygiene is a crucial practice in healthcare settings, primarily to prevent the spread of infections between patients and healthcare providers. The recommendation to perform hand hygiene before and after patient contact, as well as before procedures, is grounded in evidence-based practices aimed at reducing the risk of healthcare-associated infections.

Performing hand hygiene before interacting with a patient helps ensure that any transient organisms that could be transferred to the patient are removed, thereby protecting the patient's health. Similarly, sanitizing hands after patient contact helps eliminate pathogens that may have been acquired during the interaction, preventing their spread to other patients or surfaces. Additionally, practicing hand hygiene before procedures minimizes the risk of introducing infectious agents into sterile areas or the patient’s body, which is especially critical during invasive procedures.

In essence, maintaining consistent hand hygiene at these critical times is vital to ensuring patient safety and controlling the spread of infections within healthcare environments. This practice is supported by guidelines from organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), emphasizing its importance for both patient and healthcare personnel safety.