What effect does proper hand hygiene have on patient outcomes?

Proper hand hygiene is crucial in healthcare settings as it significantly reduces the risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). When healthcare providers, including nurses, wash their hands thoroughly and frequently, they remove pathogens that could potentially be transferred between patients or from the environment. This practice not only protects individual patients from infections but also contributes to a safer overall healthcare environment.

The importance of hand hygiene is underscored by the fact that many HAIs are preventable through simple but effective practices like washing hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitizers. By minimizing the transmission of infectious agents, proper hand hygiene directly contributes to improved patient outcomes, including shorter hospital stays, reduced need for antibiotics, and decreased mortality rates associated with infections.