NFID 2025 Report Reveals Alarming Gaps in Hand Hygiene Practices Among US Adults

National Foundation for Infectious Diseases

(Image credit: NFID)

This article first appeared on our sister brand, Contagion.Live.

On World Hand Hygiene Day, The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) released its 2025 State of Handwashing Report, based on a new national survey of US adult handwashing knowledge and behaviors. The survey showed that 48% of US adults admit to forgetting or choosing not to wash their hands at key times, like after visiting grocery stores, restaurants, or coffee shops, or a health care setting (doctor’s office, pharmacy, clinic, or hospital). In addition, 1 out of 5 (20%) admit to not washing their hands, even though handwashing can help prevent approximately 80% of infectious diseases.¹

"Given the importance of handwashing in infectious disease prevention, the stakes are high—improving hand hygiene can help improve health for all," said NFID Medical Director Robert H. Hopkins Jr, MD, in a statement. “While handwashing is an important strategy for disease prevention, and should be complementary to vaccination, it is a critical and often overlooked tool.” Estimates show that if everyone routinely washed their hands, about 1 million lives could be saved worldwide each year.¹

The survey was funded by NFID and conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago as part of the AmeriSpeak Omnibus, a monthly survey using the NORC probability-based panel designed to be representative of the US household population. The US survey received responses from 3,587 respondents from all 50 states and the District of Columbia via online and telephone interviews using landlines and cell phones. Data was collected in November and December 2024 and March 2025. The margin of sampling error is ±2 percentage points for all respondents.¹

Other findings from the survey show that only 30% of respondents reported that they are most likely to wash their hands after coughing or sneezing, which is a concern, given how easily respiratory diseases such as influenza can spread. Of those who did not wash their hands with soap and water, men are more likely to forget, while women are more likely to use alternatives like hand sanitizer.¹

According to the survey, 55% of US adults wash their hands primarily to stay healthy and avoid getting sick. In addition, 68% of respondents said that avoiding spreading germs to others was among their top 3 reasons for handwashing, showing concern for protecting others in the community.¹

Hands In For Handwashing Campaign

Along with the report, NFID has launched its Hands In For Handwashing campaign to raise awareness about the importance of handwashing in helping stop the spread of infectious diseases.¹

As part of the campaign, NFID is also hitting the road with a Clean Hands Caravan, a mobile handwashing station to make it easier for people to wash their hands in places where germs can spread.¹

“The caravan was created to make handwashing accessible and visible during key moments in everyday life when it is important to wash hands,” NFID Chief Executive Officer Marla Dalton, PE, CAE, said in a statement. “We wanted to grab people’s attention with vibrant colors, eye-catching graphics, and memorable slogans to bring some excitement to an important but sometimes overlooked habit taught in kindergarten—washing your hands.”¹

The Clean Hands Caravan tour launched at the Washington Spirit soccer game in Washington, DC on May 2. Additional tour stops include the World Barbeque Cooking Contest in Memphis, TN, from May 14-17, and the Atlanta Jazz Festival in Atlanta, GA, from May 24-26.¹

Annual Conference on Vaccinology Research Will Focus on Vaccines for a Resilient Future

In addition to its handwashing campaign, NFID will host the 2025 NFID Annual Conference on Vaccinology Research as an online event, May 5 to 7, 2025. This year's theme, Vaccines for a Resilient Future: Innovation and Impact, underscores the conference's focus on addressing global challenges in vaccine development, implementation, and evaluation.^​2

Program highlights include:

• Global Expert Panels: Discussions will feature leading scientists and public health professionals exploring advancements in vaccine research and strategies to combat emerging infectious diseases.
• Women Leaders in Public Health: A dedicated panel will spotlight influential women in vaccinology, sharing insights and experiences to inspire the next generation of scientists.
• Early-Career Recognition: The Maurice R. Hilleman Early-Stage Career Investigator Award will honor promising researchers contributing to the field of vaccinology.^​2

The conference aims to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and highlight innovative research that shapes the future of global health.

The agenda and list of speakers are available online.

For more information and registration details, visit: www.nfid.org/acvr.

References

1. New National Survey Finds Nearly Half of US Adults Admit to Not Washing Their Hands at Key Moments. NFID press release. May 5, 2025. Accessed May 5, 2025.
https://www.nfid.org/new-national-survey-finds-nearly-half-of-us-adults-admit-to-not-washing-their-hands-at-key-moments/

2. 2025 Annual Conference on Vaccinology Research. NFID. May 5, 2025. Accessed May 5, 2025.
https://events.rdmobile.com/Events/Details/18699