How many moments of hand hygiene have been laid down by WHO?

Appeared in: JODHPUR AIIMS SNO-2018

Explanation

The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined a globally recognized framework consisting of exactly 5 moments for performing hand hygiene in healthcare settings.
These 5 moments represent the critical junctures in patient care where there is the highest risk of transmitting microorganisms via the hands of healthcare workers.
The framework is designed to be easy to remember and implement, providing clear guidance to prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
The five moments are: 1) before touching a patient, 2) before a clean/aseptic procedure, 3) after body fluid exposure risk, 4) after touching a patient, and 5) after touching patient surroundings.

Option A: The number 7 is incorrect. While some local hospital protocols might adapt handwashing techniques into seven steps, the WHO framework for the moments of hand hygiene is standardized at five.
Option B: The number 8 is not associated with any standard international guideline for either the moments or the steps of hand hygiene.
Option C: The number 6 is incorrect for the WHO moments. It is often associated with the six-step technique for handwashing promoted by the NHS and other health bodies.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain WHO's 5 Moments of Hand Hygiene as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Adherence to the 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene is the cornerstone of infection prevention and control in all healthcare facilities, directly impacting patient safety and outcomes.
Consistent practice of hand hygiene helps combat the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by reducing the overall incidence of infections, thereby decreasing the need for antibiotic use.
In the Indian context, where HAIs pose a significant burden, strict adherence to the 5 moments is a cost-effective and essential strategy to improve healthcare quality.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the keywords in the question: 'How many', 'moments of hand hygiene', and 'WHO'. This points to a specific, globally recognized standard.
Recognize this as a factual recall question based on foundational knowledge in infection control.
Mentally distinguish between the 'moments' for hand hygiene (which dictate when to clean hands) and the 'steps' of hand hygiene (which describe the technique of washing).
Recall that the WHO has established a framework of 5 key moments.
Evaluate the options and select the number that matches the WHO standard, eliminating distractors that often refer to the number of steps in the washing technique (like 6 or 7).

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nursing Vital Signs pp. 36-38, 38-40

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