Healthcare-associated infections remain a significant challenge in the ANZ region. Many of these infections are preventable through consistent and correct hand hygiene practices. Hand hygiene interrupts the transmission of harmful microorganisms, including antibiotic resistant bacteria, and plays a vital role in maintaining patient safety.

Healthcare organisations in Australia and New Zealand have implemented structured hand hygiene programs that include:

• Routine training and competency assessments for all clinical staff.
• Availability of alcohol-based hand rubs (ABHR) at the point of care.
• Clear protocols for handwashing with soap and water, especially when hands are visibly soiled or after contact with certain pathogens.
• Regular auditing and feedback mechanisms to monitor optimum levels of hand hygiene compliance and drive continuous improvement.
• Support for staff with skin conditions, ensuring hand hygiene remains safe and effective.

These practices are aligned with national safety and quality standards and are embedded in infection prevention frameworks across hospitals, aged care facilities, and surgical environments.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed comprehensive guidelines to support hand hygiene in healthcare settings. These include:

The “5 Moments for Hand Hygiene”

This globally recognised framework outlines the key moments when healthcare workers should clean their hands to prevent infection transmission:

• Before touching a patient
• Before clean/aseptic procedures
• After a procedure or body fluid exposure risk
• After touching a patient
• After touching a patient’s surroundings

These moments are designed to protect both patients and healthcare workers by interrupting the chain of infection.

Multimodal Hand Hygiene Improvement Strategy

WHO recommends a multimodal strategy that includes:

• Product Placement Review – In Australia aligned with AS1071:2015.
• Training and education
• Evaluation and feedback
• Reminders in the workplace

Alcohol-Based Hand Rubs (ABHRs)

WHO recommends ABHRs as the preferred method for hand hygiene when hands are not visibly dirty. They are:

• More effective at killing germs than soap and water (EN1500).
• Faster and easier to use in clinical settings.
• Less irritating to the skin with enhanced ABHR formulations (Gel/liquid/foam including emollients)

Hand Hygiene Technique

Proper technique is essential. WHO recommends:

• Using enough product for appropriate hand coverage.
• Rubbing all hand surfaces for 20–30 seconds, wet time.
• Ensuring hands are completely dry before touching anything.

Surgical and Perioperative Considerations

In surgical and perioperative settings, hand hygiene protocols are more stringent and include:

• Surgical hand antisepsis as per EN12791 before donning sterile gloves.
• Use of sterile attire and aseptic techniques.
• Environmental cleaning and maintenance to reduce microbial load.

These practices are integrated into broader perioperative safety standards and are regularly audited to ensure compliance as per ACORN Clinical Standards.

In New Zealand, hand hygiene is a core component of health and disability service standards. These standards emphasize infection prevention, antimicrobial stewardship, and continuous quality improvement, with hand hygiene forming a foundational element of care delivery.

Proper hand hygiene is more than a routine—it’s a critical safety measure that underpins infection control across all healthcare settings. By adhering to regional best practices and global standards like those from WHO, healthcare providers in Australia and New Zealand can significantly reduce the risk of infections, improve patient outcomes, and foster a culture of safety and accountability.

Ecolab Healthcare ANZ is committed to advancing infection prevention across Australia and New Zealand through innovative hygiene solutions and education. By partnering with Ecolab, healthcare organisations can strengthen their hand hygiene programs, improve compliance, and reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections.

Connect with Ecolab Healthcare ANZ to explore tailored solutions that support your infection prevention goals.

AU: 1300 425 529

NZ: 0800 425 529

www.healthcare-au.ecolab.com