Keeping hands clean by practicing hand hygiene is one of the most important steps to take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. In recognition of World Hand Hygiene Day, the CDC Foundation is pleased to announce a new phase in a program aimed at improving hand hygiene in healthcare and community settings with continued support from GOJO and a new partner, Staples.

The CDC Foundation is partnering with GOJO to provide unbranded hand hygiene educational materials and tools for patients, healthcare providers and caregivers in U.S. healthcare facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes and other ambulatory care locations. The goal of this initiative is to improve hand hygiene practices in these settings to help reduce the number of healthcare-associated infections.

A primary factor driving antibiotic resistance is the overuse and misuse of antibiotics. To help address this issue, the CDC Foundation partnered with The Pew Charitable Trusts to analyze antibiotic use in inpatient and outpatient healthcare settings in the United States.