Vienna/Zell am See (OTS) – “It takes 20 seconds – and in those
seconds, you can stop the spread
of death.” Epidemiologist Didier Pittet speaks about hand hygiene.
Hand hygiene saves 5 to 8 million lives worldwide each year,
according to what he describes as “conservative estimates”. Pittet
teaches at the Geneva University Hospitals and regularly advises
institutions such as the World Health Organization and the French
Presidential Office. On June 26, 2025, the Professor of Medicine will
speak at the International Hagleitner Hygiene Forum in Zell am See,
Austria. The following interview is being released in advance. Pittet
shares practical everyday tips on how hand hygiene works and what to
consider when travelling. He also addresses global challenges:
infection prevention must have lasting effects, and Pittet calls for
“climate resilience” – the need of the hour, he says.

Zwtl.: The interview

How many lives around the world does hand hygiene save every
year? Do you dare to make an estimate? How many more lives could hand
hygiene potentially save if it was practiced consistently in every
country?

PITTET: Hand hygiene saves lives – millions, in fact. Based on
WHO estimates and our work, proper hand hygiene in healthcare
settings can prevent up to 50% of healthcare-associated infections (
HAIs). These infections are responsible for millions of deaths
annually, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
Conservative global estimates suggest that 5 to 8 million lives may
be saved each year through effective hand hygiene practices.

Yet the potential is far greater. If every healthcare facility
worldwide implemented basic hand hygiene at the point of care –
something still missing in at least half of facilities in low-income
settings – millions more lives could be saved annually, particularly
among mothers, newborns, and critically ill patients. As I said it
several years ago: “It takes 20 seconds to clean your hands – and in
those seconds, you can stop the spread of death.”

What is the right way to practice hand hygiene? Are there binding
standards in health service? Assuming I am visiting someone in
hospital, what exactly do I need to do?

PITTET: The gold standard for hand hygiene in healthcare is
alcohol-based handrub – it’s fast, effective, and far superior to
soap and water in killing most germs, including those responsible for
deadly hospital infections. The WHO “My 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene”
framework is the internationally endorsed standard used in hospitals
worldwide. It defines exactly when healthcare workers – and visitors
– should clean their hands to protect patients and themselves.

For visitors, it’s simple but crucial: rub your hands with
alcohol-based sanitizer before any contact with the patient and again
when leaving the room. These two times are key to prevent carrying
germs into or out of the patient’s space. Soap and water are needed
only if your hands are visibly dirty. By following this basic
routine, the visitors become part of the safety system – and part of
the solution.

Should hand hygiene also become more of a point of attention in
private life – when travelling, for example? Is it enough to wash
hands in private environments? Or are there also situations where
disinfection is explicitly required?

PITTET: Yes, hand hygiene deserves just as much attention in
private life – especially when travelling, visiting crowded places,
or during outbreaks of infectious diseases. While soap and water
remain the standard for routine handwashing at home (especially
before eating or after using the toilet), there are many situations
where alcohol-based handrub is recommended – such as when access to
clean water is limited, on public transport, or in airports.

In fact, the WHO and public health experts advise carrying hand
sanitizer when you are out and about. The use of alcohol-based
handrub is explicitly recommended in certain contexts: before
touching your face, after handling shared surfaces (like doorknobs,
touchscreens, or money), and especially when caring for sick
individuals at home.

In short: at home, soap and water are usually enough – but when
you are on the move, alcohol-based handrub is your best line of
defence.

Back to health service: what are currently the biggest challenges
in infection prevention? Where can we get better? What is your plea?
Is it the same for every region? Or are there differences between
Central Europe and the rest of the world, for example?

PITTET: One of the most important challenges in infection
prevention today is ensuring consistent implementation of basic
practices, like hand hygiene, across all levels of care – from high-
tech hospitals in Europe to under-resourced clinics worldwide. While
the tools and evidence exist, gaps in training, staffing,
infrastructure, and leadership often undermine progress. According to
WHO data, nearly 1 in 2 health facilities worldwide lacks adequate
hand hygiene at the point of care.

In Central Europe, the challenge is often about compliance and
culture, while in lower-income settings, it is more about access and
resources. My plea? Make infection prevention and control (IPC) a
core institutional priority – with leadership, investment, and
accountability at every level. Because every patient, everywhere,
deserves safe care – and infections that can be prevented should
never happen.

The climate crisis is one of the major global challenges of our
time. Is it also influencing the incidence of infection? Are new
risks emerging? What should we be aware of? What do we need to
prepare for?

PITTET: Yes, the climate crisis is already reshaping the global
landscape of infectious diseases. Rising temperatures, extreme
weather, and shifting ecosystems are expanding the reach of vector-
borne diseases [1] like dengue, malaria, and chikungunya into new
regions – including parts of Europe. Floods and droughts also disrupt
sanitation and clean water access, increasing the risk of waterborne
infections, antimicrobial resistance, and outbreaks in vulnerable
communities.

What should we prepare for? A world where outbreaks become more
frequent, less predictable, and more difficult to control –
especially in areas with weak health systems. Infection prevention
must now include climate resilience: better surveillance, rapid
response capacity, robust water and hygiene infrastructure, and
adaptable healthcare delivery. The message is clear: fighting
infections in the era of climate change means thinking beyond
microbes – and preparing for the storms that carry them.

Media Inquiries

Hagleitner Hygiene International GmbH
Bernhard Peßenteiner, Public Relations Manager
+43 664 8549250
[email protected]
www.hagleitner.com

[1] Vectors include, for example, mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas —
editor’s note.