Combatting Healthcare-Associated Infections: The Importance of Proper Hand Hygiene in European Healthcare Facilities

The “Save Lives: Clean Your Hands” campaign is a global initiative led by the World Health Organization (WHO) that emphasizes the importance of proper hand hygiene practices in healthcare settings. This campaign is particularly relevant in Europe, where approximately 4.3 million patients contract at least one healthcare-associated infection during their hospital stay each year.

These infections can be caused by various pathogens and some of them are even resistant to antibiotics, making them a growing public health concern. However, a significant portion of these infections can be prevented by implementing better hand hygiene practices. This highlights the importance of promoting proper hand hygiene to reduce the spread of infections in healthcare settings and protect patients and healthcare workers from harm.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) supports this campaign and emphasizes the significance of infection prevention and control measures, particularly hand hygiene, in combating the increasing threat of antibiotic resistance. By encouraging the practice of proper hand hygiene, healthcare facilities can work towards reducing the risk of healthcare-associated infections and preventing the spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

In conclusion, promoting proper hand hygiene practices is crucial for reducing the spread of healthcare-associated infections and protecting patients and healthcare workers from harm. The “Save Lives: Clean Your Hands” campaign is a global initiative that highlights this importance and encourages people worldwide to adhere to hand hygiene protocols in healthcare facilities.