From SC Johnson Professional: New Global Hand Hygiene Guidelines Issued

The impact of proper hand hygiene can be profound. (Photo courtesy of SC Johnson Professional)

On Global Handwashing Day (October 15), the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF launched the first global guidelines for hand hygiene in community settings — a major step forward to promoting better public health.

For the first time, unified, science-based guidance is available to institutions to help individuals reduce the spread of infections through one of the simplest and most effective actions — washing hands.

“SC Johnson Professional welcomes the release of these new guidelines and recognizes hand washing as a strong foundation for creating safe and healthy environments where people gather to live, work, learn and travel,” a press release stated. “According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, based in the U.S., handwashing can help prevent approximately 80%^[1] of infectious diseases — underscoring its critical role in public health.”

The release added: “Poor hand hygiene contributes to millions of preventable illnesses globally — a challenge that affects all regions and income levels. The introduction of these new guidelines from WHO and UNICEF highlights the significant role that simple, everyday hygiene practices play in protecting communities in public settings.

“The guidelines clarify the role of handwashing within broader hygiene practices, outlining when to wash hands, how to do it effectively, and what conditions support good hygiene habits. They reinforce that handwashing is not just a personal routine — it is a public health intervention that everyone can take.”

The impact of hand hygiene can be profound. Research has shown that, even in high-income countries, handwashing education can:

• Reduce diarrheal illness in people with weakened immune systems by 58%.^[2]
• Cut respiratory illnesses, like colds, in the general population by 16-21%.^[3]
• Lower diarrhea incidence by ~33% in schools and day-care centers.^[4]

These new guidelines offer a unified approach to addressing hand hygiene policy in community settings, which institutions can use to support individuals and encourage hygiene behavior changes by implementing practical strategies that encourage regular handwashing at key moments of risk.

“SC Johnson Professional has a decades long history in developing skincare, cleaning and hygiene solutions. Its innovative skincare products and solutions are designed to help create safe and healthy environments and encourage good hygiene habits in public settings,” the release said. “As part of the Global Handwashing Partnership, a global coalition that promotes handwashing with soap, SC Johnson Professional has contributed technical expertise and advocacy to promote effective hygiene practices.”

To read the new WHO/UNICEF guidelines, visit: 251015-uniceff_who_guidelines_on_hand_hygiene_15-oct_launch-version.pdf. For more information about SC Johnson Professional, visit: https://www.scjp.com/about-us. To learn more about the International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene, visit: https://ifh-homehygiene.org/.

^[1] Hands In For Handwashing – NFID, National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
^[2] Handwashing Facts | Clean Hands | CDC – U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
^[3] Handwashing Facts | Clean Hands | CDC – U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
^[4] Hand washing promotion for preventing diarrhoea, World Health Organization