Hand hygiene is the most important way to prevent the spread of germs. When healthcare workers, patients/clients/residents, and visitors do not clean their hands at the right times, germs can spread to other people and surfaces such as door handles, bathrooms, elevator buttons, tables, and chairs.

In a healthcare/hospital setting, hand sanitizer or soap and water are both good ways to clean your hands.

• Soap and water should be used if a patient has C. difficile (a type of germ), if a person’s hands are visibly dirty, or if a patient has a sign placed on their door that says to wash hands with soap and water.
• Alcohol-based hand sanitizer does not cause antibiotic resistance.

Gloves can spread germs to people and surfaces, the same way that our hands can.

• Hands must be cleaned before putting gloves on. Germs on our hands can spread to the outside of gloves and other gloves in the glove box. Germs on gloves can spread to people and surfaces.
• Hands must be cleaned after removing gloves. Gloves contain little holes that can allow germs to leak through and spread onto hands. 

• before and after contact with a patient or items in a patient’s room
• before performing an aseptic task (a task where sterile conditions are required), and
• after contact with blood or body fluids

The Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region is committed to improving hand hygiene compliance among healthcare workers. See our latest hand hygiene compliance rates to see how we are improving!

Contact the Regional Infection Prevention and Control Department at 306-766-3428.