“Nurses and Midwives: Clean Care Is in Your Hands”: The May 5, 2020, World Health Organization SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands Campaign

Alexandra Peters,Nasim Lotfinejad,Chloé Guitart,Alice Simniceanu,Maria Clara Padoveze,Tcheun Borzykowski,Benedetta Allegranzi,Didier Pittet

doi:10.2991/jegh.k.200218.002

Abstract

“Nurses and Midwives: Clean Care Is in Your Hands”: The May 5, 2020, World Health Organization SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands Campaign

Highlights

In addition to championing the nursing profession, Nightingale’s role was fundamental for the recognition of the importance of infection prevention and control (IPC), as she was among the first to recognize that a caregiver could transmit germs and cause patient harm
Nurses and midwives make up nearly 50% of the global health workforce [1] and are the group of healthcare workers that have the most frequent contact with patients
On May 5, 2020, for the annual celebration of the SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands campaign, World Health Organization (WHO) will focus on the essential role that nurses and midwives play in contributing to saving millions of lives each year by championing clean care

Summary

INTRODUCTION

In honor of Florence Nightingale’s 200th birthday, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared 2020 the “Year of the Nurse and Midwife.” In addition to championing the nursing profession, Nightingale’s role was fundamental for the recognition of the importance of infection prevention and control (IPC), as she was among the first to recognize that a caregiver could transmit germs and cause patient harm. In addition to championing the nursing profession, Nightingale’s role was fundamental for the recognition of the importance of infection prevention and control (IPC), as she was among the first to recognize that a caregiver could transmit germs and cause patient harm. Nurses and midwives make up nearly 50% of the global health workforce [1] and are the group of healthcare workers that have the most frequent contact with patients. This makes them pivotal figures in the fight against healthcare- associated infections (HAI) as well as neonatal and maternal sepsis. Policy makers, healthcare workers, and patients themselves—can contribute to improving hand hygiene and preventing infections (Table 1)

Nurses Midwives IPC leaders Policy makers

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

Findings

FINANCIAL SUPPORT