European Healthcare-Associated Infections: The Urgent Need for Better Hand Hygiene Practices

The growing threat of antibiotic resistance and the prevalence of healthcare-associated infections in European hospitals are major public health concerns. Each year, approximately 4.3 million patients acquire at least one such infection during their stay.

To address this issue, the World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a global campaign called “Save lives: Clean Your Hands.” This campaign aims to promote hand hygiene among healthcare workers and patients, with the goal of reducing the spread of these infections caused by various pathogens.

Healthcare-associated infections, including those resistant to antibiotics, can have serious consequences for patients and pose a significant risk to public health. However, a large percentage of these infections are preventable through effective hand hygiene practices.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) supports the “Save lives: Clean Your Hands” campaign and emphasizes the importance of infection prevention and control measures, particularly hand hygiene. By prioritizing these strategies, we can work together to combat the growing threat of antibiotic resistance and improve patient safety in healthcare settings.