Health care-associated infections usually occur when germs are transferred by health-care providers’ hands touching the patient4 May 2013 – Every year, a global campaign, known as Hand Hygiene Day, takes place on 5 May 2013 to raise awareness of the importance of hand-hygiene as a key approach in preventing disease. The slogan of this year’s campaign is: “Save lives; clean your hands”.

The campaign aims to reduce the spread of life-threatening infections through improving hand hygiene practices in health care settings. Hand hygiene is a simple, low-cost measure which is proven to be effective in preventing health care-associated infections, otherwise known as nosocomial infections.

These infections affect hundreds of millions of patients worldwide, in both developed and developing countries. They can lead to serious illness, prolonged hospital stays, long-term disabilities, added costs to patients and their families, additional financial burden on the health care system, and sometimes, tragic loss of life.

Celebrations for 5 May 2013 aim to be as inclusive as possible. The campaign calls for health care facilities to work with patients and their families, patients’ organizations and local communities to promote hand hygiene.