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The World Health Organization established the “My 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene” in 2007. These guidelines de ne key moments when healthcare workers (HCWs) should perform hand hygiene (HH). The 5 Moments are designed to keep patients – and the healthcare workers themselves – safer. The World Health Organization has been lauded for this model.
The My 5 Moments is an important and valuable tool. However, HCWs, who are often overworked and extremely busy, are so focused on patient care that they don’t always remember each time they’re supposed to perform hand hygiene. Education doesn’t work, signage doesn’t work, direct observation doesn’t work. What works is an in-the-moment reminder when a busy clinician forgets.
Not only does the Five Moments align with the evidence base concerning the spread of HAI but it is interwoven with the natural work ow of care. Su cient hand hygiene and low compliance of health care personnel are among the most critical aspects in spreading HAI
| When? | Why? | Examples |
| 1 Before patient contact | When?Clean your hands before touching a patient when approaching him/her | Why?To protect the patient against harmful germs carried on your hands | Examplesshaking hands, helping a patient to move around, clinical examination |
| 2 Before an aseptic tack | When?Clean your hands immediately before any aseptic task | Why?To protect the patient against harmful germs, including the patient’s own germs, entering his or her body | Examplesoral/dental care, secretion aspiration, wound dressing, catheter insertion, preparation of food, medications |
| 3 After body fluid exposure risk | 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 | Examplesoral/dental care, secretion aspiration, drawing and manipulating blood, clearing up urine, feces, handling waste |
| 4 After patient contact | When?Clean your hands after touching a patient and her/his immediate sorroundings, when leaving the patient's side | Why?To protect yourself and the health-care environment from harmful patient germs | Examplesshaking hands, helping a patient to move around, clinical examination |
| 5 After touching patient surroundings | When?Clean your hands after touching any object or furniture in the patient's immediate surroundings, when leaving - even if the patient has not been touched | Why?To protect yourself and the health-care environment from harmful patient germs | Exampleschaging bed linen, perfusion speed adjustment |
Hand hygiene is an important transmission route |
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Low hand hygiene compliance among health personnel |
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Large potential by increasing hand hygiene |
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Every 7 seconds a patient contracts a hospital-acquired infection in an European hospital.
Every 4 minutes a patient dies from a hospital-acquired infection.
50% of infections can be avoided by improving hand hygiene compliance
Infections result in high rates of mortality and cost at least €15.000 per infection.
