Today, on CDC’s Safe Healthcare Blog, Laura Buford with the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), calls for healthcare professionals to pledge to prevent infections by cleaning their hands in honor of International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW).

Everyone, both healthcare providers and patients, has important roles to play. APIC has created new 

‘Clean hands stop germs’ posters, stickers and decals 

encouraging patients and families to ask their providers questions about hand hygiene.

The American Hospital Association (@AHAHospitals) and APIC (@APIC) will host a Twitter chat focusing on how patients and healthcare providers can work together to reduce healthcare-associated infections on Oct. 21, 2015 at 12 p.m. EDT. The hashtag for the chat is #IIPWChat.

Hand Hygiene

 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. 

CDC's Safe Healthcare Blog: Clean Hands Stop Germs