Hand Hygiene News and Research

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Hand hygiene always matters even when gloves are used

Hand hygiene is one of the most effective, affordable and universal tools we have to prevent the transmission of infections and provide high-quality, clean and safe medical care.

5 May 2025

New study reveals hidden spread of C. diff in intensive care units

One of the most common health care-associated infections spreads within intensive care units (ICUs) more than three times more than previously thought, new research has found.

4 Apr 2025

The growing list of human viruses: Are we prepared for the next outbreak?

Researchers review the ever-growing list of human viruses, examining their diversity, transmission pathways, and the urgent need for prevention and global surveillance.

12 Feb 2025

Reducing hand hygiene monitoring could save hospitals time and money

Hand hygiene (HH) monitoring in hospitals could be reduced significantly, allowing infection preventionists to redirect efforts toward quality improvement and patient safety initiatives, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Infection Control.

20 Dec 2024

Wayne State's CEID calls for immediate community action on antimicrobial resistance

Wayne State University's Center for Emerging and Infectious Diseases (CEID) is launching its participation in World AMR Awareness Week with an urgent message: the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance requires immediate community action, so it is critical to educate, advocate, and act now.

22 Nov 2024

Urgent action needed to combat AMR and achieve EU's 2030 targets

Between 2019 and 2023, antibiotic consumption in the EU increased by 1%, moving further away from the 2030 target of a 20% reduction recommended by the Council of the European Union.

19 Nov 2024

Hospital discharges linked to higher MRSA risk for family members

Family members of patients recently discharged from the hospital may have a higher risk of getting an antibiotic-resistant infection, often called a superbug, even if the patient was not diagnosed with the same infection, suggesting hospitals play a role in the community spread of resistant bacteria, according to study in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.

7 Aug 2024

Infectious disease expert reveals airplane health risks and precautions

The TSA just reported an all-time high for the number of airline travelers screened, and major U.S. airlines expect to transport 271 million passengers this summer, a 6.3 percent increase from last year.

27 Jun 2024

Study confirms face masks' effectiveness in reducing disease transmission, calls for improved public understanding

Researchers reviewed the benefits, practicalities, and harms of masks and masking, finding that masks are effective in reducing respiratory disease transmission despite some adverse effects, and emphasized the need for improved public understanding and policies.

23 May 2024

WHO issues landmark guidelines for preventing catheter-associated infections

The World Health Organization publishes the first global guidelines to prevent the occurrence of bloodstream and other infections caused by use of catheters placed in minor blood vessels during medical procedures.

10 May 2024

Research exposes water, sanitation inaccessibility for homeless and drug users during the pandemic

A defining development of the 20th century that changed the course of public health was when governments around the world improved access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene.

9 May 2024

Hospital toilets harbor multi-drug resistant "superbugs", study finds

Pathogenic bacteria and fungi, including multi-drug resistant "superbugs" have been found on the floors, ceilings, door handles and other surfaces of hospital toilets in the UK, with patient toilets the worst affected, the ESCMID Global Congress (formerly ECCMID) in Barcelona, Spain (27-30 April) will hear.

29 Apr 2024

Hospital sinks fuel antibiotic-resistant bacteria spread

A new study published today in the American Journal of Infection Control reports the infection prevention steps taken to control a months-long multispecies outbreak of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales that occurred in a pediatric ward at the Toho University Omori Medical Center in Tokyo in 2017.

12 Apr 2024

Hospital coffee machines not responsible for spreading superbugs, study finds

Healthcare workers will be relieved to know that hospital coffee machines are not responsible for spreading disease and a general ban doesn't seem necessary, finds a study published in the Christmas issue of The BMJ.

18 Dec 2023

Study reveals need for improved infection prevention for high-risk healthcare personnel

A new study published today in the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC), based on a survey of healthcare professionals conducted during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, suggests that new efforts may be needed to strengthen infection prevention precautions and protect staff members at the highest risk of exposure to dangerous pathogens.

7 Dec 2023

Masking up matters: High-quality studies confirm face masks significantly curb COVID-19 spread

This 'Special Communication' article in JAMA Network Open compiles high-quality studies to underline the effectiveness of face masks in curbing community-level transmission of SARS-CoV-2. The article emphasizes that surgical masks are more effective than cloth masks, and that mask-wearing is a vital public health tool, both in conjunction with and independent of other measures like vaccination and social distancing.

1 Nov 2023