Unveiling the Dangers of Healthcare-Associated Infections: Why Proper Hand Hygiene is Essential in Europe

In Europe, approximately 4.3 million patients contract at least one healthcare-associated infection during their hospital stay. This alarming statistic underscores the importance of promoting proper hand hygiene practices in healthcare settings.

The “Save Lives: Clean Your Hands” campaign is a global initiative led by the World Health Organization (WHO) aimed at encouraging people worldwide to adhere to hand hygiene protocols in healthcare facilities. By promoting hand hygiene, healthcare workers and patients can protect themselves from infections caused by various pathogens.

Healthcare-associated infections, some of which are resistant to antibiotics, pose a growing public health concern in Europe. However, a significant portion of these infections can be prevented through better hand hygiene practices. This underscores the importance of promoting proper hand hygiene to reduce the spread of infections and prevent the spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) supports the “Save Lives: Clean Your Hands” campaign and emphasizes the significance of infection prevention and control measures, particularly hand hygiene, in combating the growing 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.