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Hand hygiene on WHO's list

Infection Control Monitor, May 4, 2007

Improving hand hygiene to prevent healthcare-associated infections was on a checklist of nine key solutions to prevent healthcare errors listed this week by the World Health Organization's (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Patient Safety Solutions.

 

Errors in medical care affect 10% of patients worldwide, according to the United Nation's health agency, which released the checklist to help healthcare organizations and workers avoid common mistakes. At any one time, more than 1.4 million people worldwide are suffering from infections acquired in hospitals, according to WHO figures.

 

"Effective hand hygiene is the primary preventive measure for avoiding this problem," The Joint Commission, which spearheaded the effort, said in a press release. Recommendations include making alcohol-based hand rubs readily available at points of patient care, ensuring access to safe, continuous water supplies, staff education on correct hand hygiene techniques, use of hand hygiene reminders in the workplace, and measurement of hand hygiene compliance through observational monitoring and other techniques.

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