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.

To better protect patients, the CDC Foundation received a nearly $1 million grant from Cubist to develop patient safety outcome measures and measurement tools for hospital-based programs dedicated to improving antibiotic use, commonly referred to as antibiotic stewardship programs.

More than 150,000 patients have been notified of potential exposure to hepatitis and HIV due to unsafe injection practices in U.S. healthcare settings since 2001. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, medical injections are an overlooked source of infections and outbreaks.

Every day, one out of 20 hospitalized patients has an infection caused by medical care. Healthcare-associated infections are costly to businesses and are potentially lethal to employees. CDC plays a vital role in helping businesses safeguard their workforces from infections.

In conjunction with International Infection Prevention Week, the CDC Foundation is launching an enhanced website for www.preventcancerinfections.org, an evidence-based, interactive resource targeted to assessing a cancer patient’s risk for developing a low white blood cell count and subsequent infections from chemotherapy.

To provide support to CDC, working toward the elimination of healthcare-associated infections in all medical care settings.

To improve use of antibiotics in outpatient settings, where most prescribing occurs, by providing antibiotic stewardship resources for state health departments and state Medicaid agencies.

To honor and recognize important work to promote safe injection practices and patient safety and produce educational materials that raise awareness and highlight the work of the One & Only Campaign.

To continue strengthening and building opportunities for collaboration between nursing groups and associations. As part of this program, the CDC Foundation will provide support for nursing groups to pursue and develop promising partnership opportunities.