When should hand hygiene be performed by healthcare workers?

Hand hygiene should be performed by healthcare workers before and after patient contact to effectively reduce the transmission of pathogens and protect both the patients and the healthcare workers themselves. This practice is a fundamental aspect of infection prevention and control. During healthcare interactions, there is a high likelihood of transferring microorganisms, either from the healthcare worker’s hands to the patient or vice versa.

Performing hand hygiene before touching a patient minimizes the risk of introducing harmful pathogens into their environment. After contact with a patient, hand hygiene prevents any pathogens that may have been transferred during the interaction from spreading to other patients or surfaces. This routine is critical even when hands do not appear visibly dirty, as many pathogens are present in the form of microscopic organisms that cannot be seen.

Other options suggest limited circumstances under which hand hygiene should occur, which can increase the risk of healthcare-associated infections. Hand hygiene is essential at multiple points during care, not just in specific situations.