November 30, 2021
December 1st-7th is National Handwashing Awareness Week
December 1st-7th is National Handwashing Awareness Week. It is a great time to take a closer look at handwashing and its importance in disease control and prevention.
Germs are spread through the chain of infection. When person A coughs or sneezes, those germs are passed onto person A’s hands. If person A then touches person B’s hands or touches an inanimate item and person B then touches that object and touches his or her face, nose or mouth, those germs can infect person B.
Germs can also be passed through blood and bodily fluids such as feces and vomit. If the person touches these fluids or a surface contaminated with these fluids, that person can get sick as well.
In both cases above, good hand hygiene would “break” the chain of infection and may prevent its spread. Handwashing can prevent one in three cases of diarrhea-related infections and one in five cases of respiratory infections such as colds and flus. (Fact Sheets | Handwashing | CDC, 2020)
The Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed the Clean Hands Count Campaign as a way to get healthcare providers, patients, and the community involved in ensuring everyone follows the CDC guidelines for hand hygiene. Educate your patients the importance of good hand hygiene and the role it plays in the overall health and wellbeing of our communities and ourselves.
Handwashing Basics
When to Clean Your Hands |
Patients/Community
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Healthcare providers
Plus
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How to clean your hands |
Soap and water
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Alcohol-based hand sanitizer (only use if hands are not visibly dirty)
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Visit the CMS Preventive Services website and Medicare.gov Your Guide to Medicare Preventive Services website to learn more about other Medicare-covered services.
For More Information:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Setting website
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Clean Hands Count Campaign website
- Hand Hygiene Initiative Overview (cms.gov)
- Hand Hygiene Initiative FAQs (cms.gov)
- 5 Surprising Facts About Hand Washing - Scrubs | The Leading Lifestyle Magazine for the Healthcare Community (scrubsmag.com)
References
- CDC: Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings. (2020, January 30). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Fact Sheets | Handwashing | CDC. (2020, November 16). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Hand Sanitizer Use Out and About | Handwashing | CDC. (2020, November 4). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Show Me the Science - Why Wash Your Hands? | Handwashing | CDC. (2020, September 10). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.