Clean Hands Leading to Safer Health Care for Half the World's Population

Clean Hands Leading to Safer Health Care for Half the World's Population

November 13, 2006

    GENEVA, Nov. 13 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Half the people
in the world can look forward to cleaner and safer care and
a lowered risk of becoming ill with an infection as a result
of their health care. That is because they live in countries
whose governments have pledged to become part of a worldwide
movement to address health-care associated infections under
the Global Patient Safety Challenge: Clean Care is Safer
Care.

    A total of 22 countries representing 55% of the world's
population have signed on to the Global Patient Safety
Challenge since it was launched by the World Health
Organization World Alliance for Patient Safety in October
2005. 

    On 10 November, 13 more countries -- Australia,
Belgium, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Germany, Kenya,
Finland, Luxembourg, Singapore, Sudan, Uganda and the
United States- will pledge commitment to the initiative. 
Seven countries and regions -- Bangladesh, Hong Kong SAR,
China, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States, Ireland,
Italy, Scotland, Spain- will report on their first year of
achievements. 

    At any given moment some 1.4 million people worldwide
are ill because of infections acquired in hospitals. In
developed countries the toll is 5% to 10% of patients. In
some developing countries, as many as a quarter of patients
may be affected.  

    "We can reduce these numbers dramatically, and
more and more countries are showing they are ready to take
action.  With the help of WHO and other partners these
countries are laying the foundations for patients
everywhere to receive cleaner, safer care", said Dr
Anders Nordstrom, Acting Director-General of WHO. 

    One of the most powerful approaches to fighting health
care-related infection is also the simplest: healthcare
providers need to clean their hands every time they see a
patient.

    Many countries have already substantially improved hand
hygiene practices among health professionals. During a
recent four-month hand hygiene campaign in Switzerland, for
example, compliance with good practices increased 25% among
doctors and nurses working in two cantonal hospitals. Based
on the results of that study it has been estimated that the
Swiss could avert 17 000 nosocomial infections each year if
hospitals nationwide achieved comparable improvements. 
"With 33 countries committing to 'Clean Care is Safer
Care' over the last year, we have proof of the global
political commitment to dramatically reduce deaths and
suffering from infections acquired in health care
facilities. I urge countries throughout the world to follow
the example of those who have already committed to
"Clean Care is Safer Care," Sir Liam Donaldson,
Chair of the WHO World Alliance for Patient Safety and
Chief Medical Officer for England.

    Hand hygiene remains the primary measure to reduce
health care-associated infection and the spread of
antimicrobial resistance, stressed Professor Didier Pittet,
Leader of the Global Patient Safety Challenge and Director
of the Infection Control Programme at Geneva's University
Hospitals.  "It enhances the safety of care across all
settings, from complex, modern hospitals to simple health
posts".

    Editor's note: Progress report on 22 countries
participating in "Clean Care is Safer Care".

    Bahrain, Canada, Ireland, Italy, Hong Kong SAR, China,
Malaysia, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland are
running hospital hand hygiene campaigns and made an alcohol
hand rub available at the point of care to ensure hand
hygiene can occur quickly and easily.  

    The Netherlands, the Russian Federation, and United
Arab Emirates have set up national committees on infection
control. 

    Bangladesh, Belarus, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Moldova, the Philippines, Slovenia
and Tajikistan recently committed their countries to
addressing healthcare-associated infection.

    All WHO Press Releases, Fact Sheets and Features as
well as other information on this subject can be obtained
on Internet on the WHO home page: http://www.who.int/ .

    For more information, please contact:

     Dr Agnes Leotsakos
     Technical officer
     World Alliance for Patient Safety, WHO
     Tel:    [phone]
     Mobile: [phone]
     Email:  [e-mail] 

SOURCE  World Health Organization