When hand cleaning matters & Handwashing and respiratory etiquette

When hand cleaning matters

Food preparation, toilet use, diaper changes, wound care, animal handling, and contact with garbage are important times to clean hands. Frequently handled objects can transfer germs to the hands and then the eyes, nose, or mouth. Reviewing those contacts identifies practical prevention opportunities. It does not diagnose a specific infection; illness assessment and hygiene assessment address different questions even when both are relevant. Scrub hands for at least twenty seconds.

Handwashing and respiratory etiquette

Scrub hands for at least twenty seconds. If soap and water are unavailable, use sanitizer containing at least sixty percent alcohol. Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of the elbow. Safe food handling and cleaning frequently touched surfaces reduce additional exposures. Staying home when ill and avoiding close contact with sick people complement hand hygiene. These measures reduce opportunities for spread rather than guaranteeing zero infections.

Key concepts

Microorganisms and spread

Germs occur in air, soil, water, and on or within the body.

Illness and exposure opportunities

Coughing, sneezing, vomiting, and diarrhea create situations that require particular attention to hygiene.

When hand cleaning matters

Food preparation, toilet use, diaper changes, wound care, animal handling, and contact with garbage are important times to clean hands.

Handwashing and respiratory etiquette

Scrub hands for at least twenty seconds.

References

• MedlinePlus en español — Germs, Hygiene, and Infection Prevention