ON May 23^rd, 2008, the French Ministry of Health launched a national hand cleanliness campaign targeting health care workers, patients, and the general public. The campaign emphasizes that proper hand hygiene is the key element in preventing and controlling nosocomial infections.

One of the most basic and effective ways to prevent nosocomial infections is by limiting the use of antibiotics, especially in countries such as France where they are widely consumed. Such measures inhibit the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria strains that render treatment more difficult, costly, and lengthy.

Recent studies in Europe and the USA clearly demonstrate that worker overload in the healthcare system always results in increased nosocomial infection rates, medical errors, and accidents. A new study by the Public Health School at the University of Minnesota (Medical Care – December 2007) proves that boosting the nurse to patient ratio in hospital units improves patient safety.

Far too often, hospital buildings themselves are not properly equipped to combat the ever-increasing nosocomial infection rate. Although hygiene measures such as hand washing are absolutely indispensable, these alone are insufficient.