ABSTRACT
The hands seem to get much of the blame for nosocomial infections today but the exact degree to which they contribute remains uncertain. Hand hygiene has been cited as the single most important practice to reduce the transmission of infectious agents in health care settings and is an essential element of Standard Precautions (HICPAC 2007). The degree to which hands contaminated with fomites picked up from surfaces contributes to the transmission of airborne pathogens is probably signiŸcant, and is perhaps even more signiŸcant than direct airborne transmission or inhalation for many pathogens. An estimated 20-40% of nosocomial infections have been attributed to cross infection via the hands of HCWs (Weinstein 1991). In any event, the hands cannot be neglected as one of the aerobiological pathways of airborne nosocomial infections, and focus on hand hygiene, as well as skin hygiene, is an important component of any airborne infection control program. Hand antisepsis will reduce the incidence of health care-associated infections regardless of the ultimate source of contamination.
