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Tip of the week: WHO guidelines worth a read

Infection Control Monitor, August 17, 2007

In June, The Joint Commission released its 2008 National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG), and expanded hand hygiene Goal #7A to permit use of the World Health Organization (WHO) Hand Hygiene Guidelines as an alternative to the CDC's guidelines.

Since the WHO guidelines are geared more toward developing nations, the addition will not have a monumental effect on daily practices in American hospitals. However, although it might not require you to alter how you do things at your organization, the WHO report is still an excellent resource, says Gay Howard, a senior consultant with The Greeley Company, a division of HCPro, Inc., in Marblehead, MA. In particular, it includes a section about the cultural and religious aspects of hand hygiene that makes the requirements a worthwhile read and potential resource for providing culturally appropriate and sensitive education at your facility.

To learn more about the differences in the guidelines, go to www.hcpro.com/content/74813.cfm. The cost is $10. Briefings on Infection Control subscribers received this story with their subscriptions.

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