Campaign overview
Health care associated infections (HAIs), particularly those involving multiresistant organisms (MROs) pose a very real and serious threat to people who are admitted to hospital, however many of these infections are preventable.
Microbes can be readily trasmitted on health care workers' hands, and hand hygiene substantially reduces this transmission.
International evidence agrees that there is no single way of reducing healthcare associated infections (HAIs) but improving hand hygiene compliance can have a significant impact.
The Clean Hands Save Lives Campaign is designed to improve hand hygiene and reduce health care associated infections in NSW. The campaign was launched on 27th March 2006 and will run for 12 months.
The Clean Hands Save Lives campaign includes three key strategies:
- Alcohol based hand rubs placed in easy-to-access locations such as near patient beds and nursing stations
- Promotional posters with key hand hygiene messages that will change every month
- User-friendly materials designed to encourage patients to become involved in their own healthcare. Brochures available in 22 languages.
A key message of the campaign targets patients and consumers of health care, telling them "It's OK to ask" health professionals if they have cleaned their hands.
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