According to a study published in the American Journal of Infection Control, the fifth moment of The World Health Organization's Five Moments for Hand Hygiene, following the interaction of patient surroundings, is the most overlooked, according to an article on the McKnights website.
The Five Moments when healthcare professionals should wash their hands are before interacting with a patient, prior to a clean or antiseptic procedure, after bodily fluid exposure risk, after touching a patient and after touching a patient's surroundings.
A recent study examined pathogenic risks in a patient's immediate surroundings. The examined surfaces harbored a wide variety of bacteria, some of which are potential pathogens and can lead to infections.
Healthcare facilities can encourage hand hygiene with the placement of hand hygiene dispensers. Proper placement can increase usage by more than 50 percent.
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