J Korean Med Assoc.  2018 Jan;61(1):13-20. 10.5124/jkma.2018.61.1.13.

Hand hygiene

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. hbkimmd@snu.ac.kr

Abstract

Healthcare-associated infections are a major concern in relation to patient safety. Of the numerous interventions for infection control, hand hygiene is the main factor that reduces the transmission of nosocomial pathogens. In this review, we cover the history of hand hygiene, evidence supporting its efficacy, and its importance. Then, we briefly introduce the 2017 hand hygiene guidelines of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Keyword

Hand hygiene; Healthcare-associated infections; Infection control

MeSH Terms

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
Hand Hygiene*
Hand*
Infection Control
Korea
Patient Safety

Figure

  • Figure 1 Five moments for hand hygiene. Reproduced from Sax H, et al. J Hosp Infect 2007;67:9–21, with permission from Elsevier [36].

  • Figure 2 How to handwash. Reproduced from World Health Organization. WHO guidelines on hand hygiene in health care [Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2009 [1].

  • Figure 3 How to handrub. Reproduced from World Health Organization. WHO guidelines on hand hygiene in health care [Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2009 [1].


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