Two years of a global pandemic have definitely shown us why it's the simplest gestures that make the difference . Washing your hands is one of those gestures: because of COVID-19, we realize how easy it is to prevent contagions and infections just by properly disinfecting or sanitizing your hands. In fact, hand hygiene is one of the most effective measures to prevent infections caused not only by SARS-CoV-2, but by the many viruses and bacteria that we come into contact with every day in hospitals, on public transport, in the supermarket, at school, in a simple trip to the toilet. But not all viruses and bacteria are harmful to our health. In fact, there are ten times more bacteria than human cells in our body, and these bacteria are essential for human survival. The secret, then, is really knowing how to live with the viruses and bacteria that live inside us and that surround us and, at the same time, being aware that, in certain places and times, contact with viruses and bacteria can be harmful to our health. Take the case of hospitals, for example. The bacteria that exist in these places are, as a rule, more resistant to treatments and require stronger antibiotics, affecting hospitalized patients, who are more fragile and weaker. These bacteria usually come from abroad and find in hospitals the right environment to become dangerous and fatal. It is, therefore, a duty of all health professionals to prevent this risk for their patients. And it has been shown that the most effective measure to do so is to wash hands before, during and after dealing with each patient . This duty extends to all those who enter environments where health care is provided, whether family members, visitors or those accompanying patients. For 15 years, Luz Saúde has promoted, among its health professionals, the rigorous practice of hand hygiene throughout its network of hospitals, clinics, and senior homes, with effective results, regularly evaluated by the JCI (Joint Commission International), the most demanding international organization in terms of quality and safety in the provision of health care. On this May 5, 2022, which marks World Hand Hygiene Day , Luz Saúde cannot fail to publicly honor all its professionals - who have always assumed this duty as a mission and who, especially during the years of the pandemic, proved once again that it is the simple gestures that make the difference. Washing your hands is part of the program of good practices for the prevention and control of infections in the provision of health care at the Hospital da Luz Network. To do so is to protect each one of us and all our patients. For you, we wash our hands! Watch the video ECDC
