Hand hygiene plays a crucial role in preventing the spread of diseases and maintaining good health. The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed a comprehensive approach to hand hygiene, highlighting the importance of specific moments when hand hygiene should be practiced. Let’s delve into the 5 key moments of WHO for hand hygiene.

1. Before touching a patient:

Prior to any physical contact with a patient, it is essential to clean your hands thoroughly. This helps prevent the transmission of harmful microorganisms from your hands to the patient, reducing the risk of infection.

  • Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
  • Rub your hands together, covering all surfaces until dry.

2. Before clean/aseptic procedures:

When performing clean or aseptic procedures, such as inserting a urinary catheter or preparing a sterile dressing, hand hygiene is of utmost importance. This step helps prevent the introduction of microorganisms into normally sterile areas of the body.

  • Follow the same hand hygiene steps as mentioned above.

3. After body fluid exposure risk:

After any potential contact with body fluids, it is crucial to cleanse your hands thoroughly. This includes situations where there is a risk of exposure to blood, urine, saliva, or other bodily fluids.

  • Immediately wash your hands with soap and water.
  • If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

4. After touching a patient:

After physical contact with a patient, it is essential to perform hand hygiene. This helps eliminate any microorganisms that may have been transmitted from the patient to your hands, reducing the risk of cross-contamination.

  • Follow the same hand hygiene steps as mentioned above.

5. After touching patient surroundings:

Patients’ surroundings, including bedrails, tables, and medical equipment, can harbor harmful microorganisms. Therefore, it is crucial to maintain hand hygiene after touching any object in the patient’s immediate environment.

  • Use soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to clean your hands thoroughly.

Adhering to these 5 key moments of WHO for hand hygiene is vital for healthcare professionals and anyone involved in patient care. By following these guidelines, we can help limit the transmission of infections and create a safer healthcare environment.

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