Global Handwashing Day Is October 15

The idea is simple: Washing hands with soap and water removes potential disease-causing organisms from the hands. It is one of the most effective and inexpensive ways to prevent diarrhea and pneumonia in global communities, which together are responsible for the majority of child deaths. Hand hygiene is also the primary method of preventing the transmission of pathogens to and from patients in healthcare settings that result in an estimated 1.4 million bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections, surgical site infections, chest/respiratory infections or gastrointestinal infections every year. Handwashing is clearly important, and yet 60% of the time healthcare professionals fail to clean their hands when indicated!