We are more or less aware about the importance of washing hands. The healthcare professionals and persons responsible for patient care certainly needs to be concerned about hand hygiene and should be able to perform it correctly at the right time.

It would be best if they follow World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines about handling sick persons. They need to clean their hands by rubbing them with an alcohol-based formulation, as they are the preferred mean for routine hygienic hand antisepsis if hands are not visibly soiled. It is faster, more effective and better tolerated by hands than washing with soap and water.

If exposure to potential spore-forming pathogens is strongly suspected or proven, including outbreaks of Clostridium difficile, hand washing with soap and water is the preferred means.

The use of gloves does not replace the need for cleaning doctors or nurses hands. Hand hygiene must be performed when appropriate regardless of the indications for glove use. Discard gloves after each task and clean your hands — gloves may carry germs as well. Wear gloves only when indicated according to standard and contact — otherwise they become a major risk for germ transmission.

Thousands of people die every day around the world from infections acquired while receiving health care. Hands are the main pathways of germ transmission during health care. As a result, hand hygiene is the most important measure to avoid the transmission of harmful germs and prevent health care associated infections.

So, never come out of the washroom without washing your hands properly and always use few moments for washing before eating.