Brief Review of Hand Hygiene: from Basics to Recent Developments
Dr LUI, Leo
Specialty Coordinator (Clinical Microbiology and Infection), Education Committee. The Hong Kong College of Pathologists
Volume 21, Issue 1, Jan 2026 (download full article in pdf)
Editorial note:
Hand hygiene is a key infection prevention and control measure in the healthcare settings, where vulnerabilities and gaps have been exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, the problem of healthcare-associated infection remains substantial and continues to pose serious risks to patients worldwide. With the recent advancements of innovative technology, it is uncertain how has the field of hand hygiene changed, or if at all. In this review we shall revisit the basics of hand hygiene while exploring new developments related to this topic. We welcome any feedback or suggestions. Please direct them to Dr. LUI Leo (e-mail: leo_lui@dh.gov.hk) of Education Committee, the Hong Kong College of Pathologists. Opinions expressed are those of the authors or named individuals, and are not necessarily those of the Hong Kong College of Pathologists.