In response to the World Health Organization (WHO) Hand Hygiene Day on May 5, our hospital expanded two promotional events during the Nurse’s Day celebration (5/6) and the hospital medical affairs meeting (5/7), with enthusiastic participation from all medical and nursing staff. This year’s World Hand Hygiene Day theme “It might be gloves. It’s always hand hygiene.” emphasizes that whether or not gloves are worn, they can still become contaminated and do not provide 100% protection. Improper use of gloves wastes resources and may not effectively reduce the spread of antimicrobial‑resistant microorganisms. Only by implementing proper hand‑washing timing and correct hand‑washing steps, combined with appropriate glove use, can we effectively prevent the spread of antimicrobial‑resistant microorganisms and reduce the adverse environmental impact of medical waste.
Practicing hand hygiene is one of the best ways to prevent disease. People should wash their hands correctly using the 7‑step method before “eating,” before “contacting children,” after “using the toilet,” after “blowing the nose,” and before and after “medical visits.” The steps are: “inner,” “outer,” “between,” “back,” “thumb,” “palm,” “finish.” Strengthening hand hygiene together protects health.
