World Handwashing Day: Recommend to do it 5 times a day

In order to raise awareness of the importance of prevent and control the spread of infections, the World Health Organization (WHO) under the motto & # 39; A clean care for everything is in your hands & # 39;, favors hand washing between professionals, patients and loved ones today.

The first concrete action of prevention by washing hands It was produced at the maternity hospital of Vienna, Austria, in 1847. Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis was responsible for the institution when a generalized postpartum infection caused the death of thousands of women. Although it seems incredible, no one washed their hands before and after seeing patients, or to move from one room to another. After compulsory hand washing, maternal mortality has decreased considerably. When this doctor completed his duties in 1850 and that standard ceased to be respected, the increase in the number of deaths It was still a problem.

Currently, the five times indicated by WHO for hand hygiene are:

· Before contact with the patient

· Before disinfection tasks

· After disinfection tasks

· After contact with the patient

· After the patient's environment

In the home environment, the suggestions are:

· Before, during and after food preparation

· Before eating

· Before and after treating a sick person or treating an injury · After going to the bathroom, changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has been to the toilet

· After wiping your nose, coughing or sneezing

· After working in the garden, touching garbage or animals

· If hands are visibly dirty or oiled