Hand Hygiene

The Infection Control Today® hand hygiene page examines the practice of hand hygiene, from the proper methods to adherence among hospital staff. Will greater recognition of hand hygiene’s importance in curbing the spread of infections translate into better adherence among hospital staff and the public? This page features videos that demonstrate exactly how to conduct hand hygiene properly, articles recapping peer-reviewed literature on the latest advances in monitoring and adherence, as well as the popular "Bug of the Month" feature.

Hot Water Might Disinfect Sinks Better Than Chlorine

April 15, 2021

Emilie Bédard, PhD: “We worked in collaboration with infection prevention, environmental services…. We had a multi-disciplinary team to make sure that we would look at all aspects of this approach.”

Bug of the Month: I Can (and Do) Infect People in a Lot of Ways

March 29, 2021

Bug of the Month helps educate readers about existing and emerging pathogens of clinical importance in healthcare facilities today.

The STDs Infectious Disease Experts Hate Most

March 08, 2021

Even with effective screening, treatment, and education, STIs can be like movie villains who just won’t die, who change form, and who keep coming back to wreak havoc. They’re relentless, but so is science.

Hand Hygiene Monitoring: Here’s How It’s Done

March 05, 2021

Linda S. Estep, BS MT (ASCP), CIC: “I’ve done many hand hygiene audits in my day, I still do hand hygiene audits, when I’m in the hospitals now. If they know who you are, they scatter. They know the infection preventionists.”

Bug of the Month: If a Flea I Infect Bites You, Flee to Your Doctor

March 02, 2021

Bug of the Month helps educate readers about existing and emerging pathogens of clinical importance in healthcare facilities today.

Bug of the Month: If I Show Up, It Could Mean War

February 02, 2021

Bug of the Month helps educate readers about existing and emerging pathogens of clinical importance in healthcare facilities today.

Hand Hygiene: Where Technology and Tradition Meet

January 22, 2021

Hand hygiene is always important, but during this pandemic it’s crucial to preventing transmission. Now technology is making it possible for hospitals not only to monitor compliance, but also potential viral exposure.

Year Zero: How COVID-19 Changed Everything

December 23, 2020

Though tough months lie ahead for infection preventionists and other healthcare professionals, hope remains that at some point in 2021 things will begin to settle down. In the end, it comes down to a simple formula: We win, COVID-19 loses.

Swiss Cheese Model—How Infection Prevention Really Works

December 15, 2020

In essence, infection prevention and control isn’t just one measure, like personal protective equipment (PPE), but all of these layers. Each layer is imperfect but plays a critical role in reducing risk.

Hospital Fights COVID, Superbug CRAB at Same Time

December 02, 2020

When an 850-bed urban hospital fought off COVID-19 in part by having to relax infection prevention protocols, the opportunistic and deadly carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) struck.