WHEN? Clean your hands before touching a patient when approaching him/her. WHY? To protect the patient against harmful germs carried on your hands.
WHEN? Clean your hands immediately before performing a clean/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 an exposure risk to body fluids (and after glove removal). WHY? To protect yourself and the health-care environment from harmful patient germs.
WHEN? Clean your hands after touching a patient and her/his immediate surroundings, when leaving the patient’s side. WHY? To protect yourself and the health-care environment from harmful patient germs.
WHEN? Clean your hands after touching any object or furniture in the patient’s immediate surroundings even if the patient has not been touched. WHY? To protect yourself and the health-care environment from harmful patient germs
