The World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasized the need to promote hand hygiene to enhance the safety and quality of healthcare facilities, according to an article on the PharmaBiz website.

Key areas to focus on, according to WHO, include the WHO-recommended "five moments for hand hygiene." This five step formula requires health workers to wash their hands using an alcohol-based product for 20-30 seconds, or soap and water for 40-60 seconds, before touching a patient, before clean/aseptic procedures, after bodily fluid exposure, after touching a patient, and after touching patient surroundings.

Also, facility-based infection prevention leaders should communicate the critical importance of implementing WHO guidelines to all stakeholders. 

Facilities are encouraged to make hand hygiene as a core part of their infection control regimens, with areas of risk identified and solutions found as a matter of priority. 

Read the article.