August 2009 How to handrub? How to handwash?

RUB HANDS FOR HAND HYGIENE! WASH HANDS WHEN VISIBLY SOILED WASH HANDS WHEN VISIBLY SOILED! OTHERWISE, USE HANDRUB

Duration of the entire procedure: 20-30 seconds Duration of the entire procedure: 40-60 seconds

Hand Hygiene
1a 1b 2 0 1 2
When and How
Wet hands with water; Apply enough soap to cover Rub hands palm to palm;
all hand surfaces;

Apply a palmful of the product in a cupped hand, covering all surfaces; Rub hands palm to palm;

3 4 5

3 4 5
Right palm over left dorsum with Palm to palm with fingers interlaced; Backs of fingers to opposing palms
interlaced fingers and vice versa; with fingers interlocked;

6 7 8
Right palm over left dorsum with Palm to palm with fingers interlaced; Backs of fingers to opposing palms
interlaced fingers and vice versa; with fingers interlocked;

Rotational rubbing of left thumb Rotational rubbing, backwards and Rinse hands with water;
clasped in right palm and vice versa; forwards with clasped fingers of right
6 7 8 hand in left palm and vice versa;

9 10 11

Rotational rubbing of left thumb Rotational rubbing, backwards and Once dry, your hands are safe. Dry hands thoroughly Use towel to turn off faucet; Your hands are now safe.
clasped in right palm and vice versa; forwards with clasped fingers of right with a single use towel;
hand in left palm and vice versa;
WHO acknowledges the Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève (HUG), in particular the members of the Infection Control
Programme, for their active participation in developing this material.
Clean hands
are safer hands.
Are yours clean?
All reasonable precautions have been taken
by the World Health Organization to verify
the information contained in this document.
However, the published material is being
distributed without warranty of any kind, either
expressed or implied. The responsibility for the
interpretation and use of the material lies with
the reader. In no event shall the World Health
Organization be liable for damages arising from
its use.

When? YOUR 5 MOMENTS FOR HAND HYGIENE

E
OR ASEP
TIC
B

EF EAN/
L EDUR
E
C ROC
P

BEFORE AFTER
TOUCHING TOUCHING
1 A PATIENT 4 A PATIENT
Y
E

D
R

AF
T E R BO U
S
3 FLU
RIS I D EX P O
K

AFTER
TOUCHING PATIENT
5 SURROUNDINGS

BEFORE TOUCHING WHEN? Clean your hands before touching a patient when approaching
A PATIENT him/her.
1 WHY? To protect the patient against harmful germs carried on your
hands.

BEFORE CLEAN/ WHEN? Clean your hands immediately before performing a

ASEPTIC PROCEDURE clean/aseptic procedure.
2 WHY? To protect the patient against harmful germs, including the
patient's own, from entering his/her body.

AFTER BODY FLUID WHEN? Clean your hands immediately after an exposure risk to body
EXPOSURE RISK fluids (and after glove removal).
3 WHY? To protect yourself and the health-care environment from
harmful patient germs.

AFTER TOUCHING WHEN? Clean your hands after touching a patient and her/his
A PATIENT immediate surroundings, when leaving the patient’s side.
4 WHY? To protect yourself and the health-care environment from
harmful patient germs.

AFTER WHEN? Clean your hands after touching any object or furniture in the
TOUCHING PATIENT patient’s immediate surroundings, when leaving – even if the
SURROUNDINGS
5 patient has not been touched.
WHY? To protect yourself and the health-care environment from
harmful patient germs.