hand hygiene
Washing your palms
Hand hygiene refers to practices that keep the hands clean and free of harmful microorganisms, primarily through washing with soap and water or using alcohol-based sanitizers.
The term is especially common in healthcare settings, where proper hand hygiene is critical for preventing the spread of infection between patients and staff.
Signs in hospital restrooms remind visitors about hand hygiene.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought hand hygiene into everyday conversation as a basic public health measure.
- fingernailsKeratin digit coverings
- sanitizingEliminating harmful microorganisms
- handwashingCleaning palms with soap
- wash your handsRemove germs with soap
- soapFatty alkali cleanser
soap and water · scrubbing · scrub in · wrists · disinfecting · clean hands · palms · infection control · cross contamination · alcohol-based · antiseptic · paper towels · drying · sink · rinsing · sterilization · public restroom · lather
- hygienehandwashing, toothbrush, sanitizer, sanitized, cleanliness
- medical caresurgery, examination, injection, prescription, medication
- sanitationsewage, sewers, cleaning, sewer, disinfecting
- nursingnurse, nursing, nurses, RN, LPN
- nursing carevital signs, patient care, medication administration, wound care, patient assessment
- health standardssanitation standards, patient safety, infection control, health indicators, immunization schedules