Good for hygiene, gentle on your skin
Non-Touch provides extra hygiene in health care
Drying hands, just as important as washing hands
A clean and safe entrance
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Why hygiene in healthcare matters
Anyone working in healthcare knows: hygiene is not a separate activity or task. It runs through all activities, all day long. Hygiene in healthcare is about preventing infections, protecting (vulnerable) patients and keeping employees healthy and safe. Reliable hygiene measures help reduce cross-contamination and support safe daily routines. Consistent hygiene solutions are fundamental to trusted care environments.
Contents
- Hygiene in healthcare is about safety, care and continuity
- Hand hygiene in healthcare: everyday practice
- Clean entrance areas as part of infection prevention
- Hygiene products for healthcare
- Managing hygiene more efficiently
- Did you know? Frequently asked questions about hygiene in healthcare
- Download our brochure: Hygiene in Healthcare
Without cleanliness, no trust: studies show that cleanliness is one of the most important measures of how competent a clinic is perceived.
Want to know how your facility performs? Take our free 1-minute Hygiene Check and receive tailored advice to improve hygiene, efficiency, and patient confidence in your healthcare environment.
Hygiene in healthcare is about safety, care and continuity
In hospitals, clinics and care centers, many people come together. Especially in highly frequented areas of clinics, such as entrance areas, waiting zones or visitor washrooms, hygiene is particularly important, because patients, visitors and staff share the same sanitary rooms and surfaces. Hygiene is therefore one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of infections caused by contact with frequently used surfaces.
Safety and trust for visitors and patients
In addition to supporting health, hygiene also creates a feeling of safety and trust among visitors and patients. Surveys by Sheffield Hallam University within the British National Health Service (NHS) show that a high standard of cleanliness is one of the most important decision criteria when choosing a clinic. In a study (2007), 54% of respondents named cleanliness as the most important factor, and the quality of washrooms and toilets strongly influenced how positively they experienced their overall stay.
Sense of control for staff
For employees, hygiene provides a sense of control in an environment where not everything can always be predicted. That is why hygiene in healthcare has to be consistent, visible and reliable. Every day, across the entire facility.
Effective hygiene in healthcare helps to:
- reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections
- protect patients and residents
- support staff safety and wellbeing
- strengthen trust among patients, visitors and families
Hand hygiene in healthcare: everyday practice
According to the 2025 NFID State of Handwashing Report, up to 80% of infections are transmitted via the hands. And that is why hand hygiene is one of the most familiar routines in healthcare. It happens dozens of times a day. Before and after patient contact. Between tasks. In treatment rooms, corridors and washrooms. Hand hygiene is one of the most important forms of infection prevention in care homes, clinics and healthcare facilities.
Hand washing or hand disinfection, what should you do and when? In daily practice, both have their purpose:
Hand washing
Hand washing should be performed with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. It is required:
Hand disinfection
Hand disinfection should be performed on dry hands using an alcohol-based hand rub. It is recommended:
Protecting the skin of healthcare staff
Frequent hand washing and disinfection can put significant strain on the skin. Dryness, irritation and small cracks are common, especially for healthcare staff. When hands become uncomfortable or damaged, sticking to consistent hand hygiene can become more difficult.
Skin-friendly formulations, pH-neutral products and allergen-reduced solutions help support staff who rely on their hands throughout the working day. The CWS Hygiene skin protection plan can support this.
Contactless hygiene in healthcare
Touch-free dispensers reduce unnecessary contact and help lower the risk of cross-contamination. That’s why they have become standard in many healthcare environments.
In addition to being more hygienic, touch-free dispensers are also much easier to use for patients, visitors, staff and people with limited mobility. Especially in high-traffic areas where many different people pass through each day.
Hygienic hand drying: often skipped, always important
Drying the hands is the final step after washing. One that is often skipped, but actually essential. Wet hands can transmit up to 1,000 times more bacteria and microorganisms than dry hands, increasing the risk of contamination.
In healthcare environments, hand drying solutions need to be:
- quick and effective
- hygienic in daily use
- comfortable for frequent use
Clean entrance areas as part of infection prevention
The importance of good hand hygiene is clear. But did you know that hygiene in healthcare does not start at the washbasin? It starts at the entrance.
Dirt and moisture brought in from outside can spread quickly throughout a building. Wet floors increase the risk of slips and falls. And a neglected entrance creates the wrong first impression.
Well-placed entrance mats help reduce these risks and can lower a building’s cleaning costs by up to 70%. With the floor mat service from CWS Hygiene, you always have well-functioning dust control mats in your entrance area, supporting overall hygiene throughout the building.
Managing hygiene more efficiently
Hygiene management in healthcare is all about consistency under pressure. When usage varies and routines are strict, transparency and reliable service make day-to-day operations easier.
Real time insights with IoT
Clinics and hospitals often have multiple washrooms across different floors or wings, making manual checks inefficient.
The CWS smartMate IoT solution provides real-time insights into fill levels and service needs via the dashboard or app. Complaints are prevented, staff time is saved and consistent availability of hygiene products is ensured.
A service model that fits the everyday healthcare reality
CWS Hygiene works with a full-service rental model designed for healthcare environments. This includes:
- installation and maintenance
- regular servicing and timely delivery of refills
- personal contact partners and regional service teams
- predictable monthly costs
The result is hygiene that works, relieves and supports healthcare staff, rather than adding to their workload.
Did you know?
What is included in hygiene in healthcare?
Hygiene in healthcare is comprehensive and includes hand hygiene, surface hygiene, clean washrooms, safe waste handling and clean indoor areas by preventing dirt from entering at the entrance by means of mats. All these measures help reduce infection risks for patients, visitors and staff.
Why is hand hygiene in healthcare so important?
Pathogens are often spread via hands. That’s why consistent hand hygiene is essential to reduce cross-infections and protect patients as well as healthcare staff.
When should hands be washed and when disinfected?
Hands are washed when visibly dirty or after contact with bodily fluids. Hand disinfection is used before and after patient contact and between care activities.
Why are non-touch dispensers useful in medical practices?
They reduce unnecessary contact, support hygiene compliance and are easy to use in busy healthcare environments.
Is sustainability important in healthcare hygiene?
Sustainability plays an increasing role in healthcare operations. Hygiene solutions must meet high safety standards, and responsible use of resources is becoming increasingly important. The right consumables, long-lasting product design and certified materials help reduce waste and support your sustainability goals.