Asking Doctors to Clean Their Hands Made Easier

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), "An estimated 722,000 healthcare-associated infections occur each year in U.S. hospitals, and about 75,000 patients with these infections die during their hospital stays."

Despite knowing the risks to their patients and themselves, physicians wash their hands less than half the time they should and even the most empowered patients can feel awkward about asking them to do so. The CDC is trying to change physician and patient behavior with a new campaign to promote hand hygiene in healthcare settings.


"Clean Hands Count" aims to:

• Improve healthcare provider adherence to CDC hand hygiene recommendations
• Address the myths and misconceptions about hand hygiene, e.g., many believe that alcohol-based sanitizers promote antibiotic resistance when they do not
• Empower patients to play a role in their care by asking or reminding healthcare providers to clean their hands. Suggestions include:
• "I didn't see you clean your hands before you came in, would you mind cleaning them again before you examine me."
• "I'm worried about germs spreading in the hospital. Will you please clean your hands once more before you start my treatment."

Information and materials for providers, patients and their loved ones, healthcare organizations, and the media are available at: http://www.cdc.gov/handhygiene/