Final answer:
Hand hygiene is crucial for both the general public and healthcare workers to prevent the transmission of diseases. Hands should be washed following the CDC guidelines before and after various activities, and healthcare workers have additional specific handwashing circumstances. Proper handwashing technique includes wetting, lathering, scrubbing, rinsing, and drying.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hand hygiene is essential to prevent the spread of pathogens and maintain public health. CDC recommendations specify that hands should be washed: before, during, and after food handling; before eating; before and after caring for someone sick; before and after treating a cut or wound; after using the bathroom; after changing diapers; after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose; after touching garbage; and after contact with animals, their feed, or waste. For healthcare workers, hand hygiene is especially critical between every patient contact, after removing gloves, after exposure to bodily fluids and fomites, and before and after surgical procedures.
Proper handwashing technique involves five steps: wet hands with running water, lather with soap, scrub all parts of the hands, rinse thoroughly, and dry with a clean towel. This simple method offers significant protection against illnesses such as colds, flu, and other viruses that can persist on surfaces. If soap and water are unavailable, hand sanitizer can be a temporary alternative, although it is not as effective as a thorough 20-second hand wash with soap and warm water.