SHIP research team at forefront of World Hand Hygiene Day campaign

Glasgow Caledonian University’s Safeguarding Health through Infection Prevention (SHIP) Research Group is behind a new report  published today by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to mark World Hand Hygiene Day (May 5).

Professor Jacqui Reilly, Research Group co-lead in the School of Health and Life Sciences’ Research Centre for Health (ReaCH), represented the SHIP team on a WHO expert group tasked with producing the report on hand hygiene research priorities.

She said: “I am delighted to see the publication of the WHO report today on World Hand Hygiene Day as it provides insightful ideas for researchers to focus their research proposals on hand hygiene and should direct research funders towards prioritising funding for much needed hand hygiene evidence. This will help accelerate action on hand hygiene internationally.

“Global collaboration and investment in hand hygiene research remain essential to promote safe and effective care worldwide. Ultimately, this agenda will contribute to improving compliance with hand hygiene and safeguarding patient safety.”

Professor Reilly has been contributing to this work since 2021, as a member of the WHO Technical Advisory Group (TAG), which was set up to develop the research agenda on hand hygiene. TAG includes 27 international experts from various relevant disciplines, selected for their technical expertise, geographical representation, and gender balance. Get more information on the report here.

This year’s theme for the WHO World Hand Hygiene Day campaign is Accelerate action together. The SHIP team are celebrating the day as part of their international leadership of hand hygiene research. Their research is used for the national and international guidance on hand hygiene.

They are also marking the day with a SHIP blog from one of their collaborators - Nurse Consultant Sophie French, in Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infection at NHS National Services Scotland – read her blog World Hand Hygiene Day: Not just rinse and repeat!

Accelerate action together is all about galvanizing action on preventing infections and antimicrobial resistance in health care. WHO states that strong and engaged communities of health workers, policymakers and civil society organisations (CSOs) can accelerate and sustain action at the point of care to keep people safe and healthy.

“For World Hand Hygiene Day 2023, we put CSOs in focus. Driven by their passion, values and strong social justice agendas, and often in close proximity to the communities they serve, CSOs can spearhead and accelerate change at local, national and international levels,” the campaign states.

“WHO is calling on all CSOs and other partner organisations (e.g. members of the Global IPC Network) to engage with the campaign and accelerate progress at achieving effective hand hygiene at point of care.”