Hundreds of millions of infections could be prevented if health-care professionals, patients and their families, wash their hands with alcohol-based rub or soap and water before and after touching patients and their surroundings, the United Nations health agency today said marking Hand Hygiene Day.
“Health care-associated infections are a major burden around the world and threaten the safety and care of patients,” said UN World Health Organization (WHO) Envoy for Patient Safety, Liam Donaldson. “I urge the health care and patient communities to take firm and decisive action to save lives from this preventable harm.”