What is the purpose of hand hygiene in infection control?

Hand hygiene plays a critical role in infection control primarily by removing dirt, bacteria, and viruses from the hands. This practice significantly reduces the risk of transmitting infectious agents to patients, healthcare workers, and the surrounding environment. Proper hand hygiene, whether through washing with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitizers, effectively disrupts the chain of infection, which is essential in healthcare settings where vulnerable populations are present.

While hand hygiene may have incidental benefits such as enhancing appearance or potentially moisturizing the skin, these are not the primary goals of the practice. The overarching aim is to prevent the spread of infections and maintain a safe and sterile environment, which is especially crucial in settings where infections can have severe consequences. The mention of preventing the spread of information is unrelated to the purpose of hand hygiene and does not pertain to infection control practices. Thus, the primary focus remains on the removal of harmful pathogens to safeguard health.