APRIL 2012 How to handrub? How to handwash?

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

Hand Hygiene in Outpatient/ Duration of the entire procedure: 20-30 seconds Duration of the entire procedure: 40-60 seconds

Home Based/Long-Term Care

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;
Clean hands
are safer hands.
Are yours clean?
All resonable 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
B

EF AN/ASEPT
E EDUR IC
CL ROC E
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 E X P
O
AFTER
K
TOUCHING PATIENT
5 SURROUNDINGS

WHEN? Clean your hands before touching a patient.

BEFORE TOUCHING
A PATIENT WHY? To protect the patient against harmful germs carried on your
1 hands.

WHEN? Clean your hands immediately before performing

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

WHEN? Clean your hands immediately after a procedure involving

AFTER BODY FLUID exposure risk to body fluids (and after glove removal).
3 EXPOSURE RISK WHY? To protect yourself and the environment from harmful patient
germs.

WHEN? Clean your hands after touching the patient at the end of the
AFTER TOUCHING encounter or when the encounter is interrupted.
4 A PATIENT WHY? To protect yourself and the environment from harmful
patient germs.

WHEN? Clean your hands after touching any object or furniture in the
patient’s immediate surroundings, when a specific zone is
AFTER temporarily and exclusively dedicated to a patient – even if
TOUCHING PATIENT the patient has not been touched.
5 SURROUNDINGS
WHY? To protect yourself and the environment from harmful patient
germs.
© WHO, 2012. All Rights Reserved.
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