Handwashing today is the single most important intervention before and after patient contact.

Every health-care worker is required to act responsibly and without fail to apply the techniques for handwashing at every patient encounter. They also should advise patients and families of the importance of handwashing and give them permission to remind the staff.

Decontamination refers to the process for physical removal of blood, bodily fluids and the removal or destruction of micro-organisms from the hands.