Hand hygiene statistics

The key numbers on hand hygiene and infections, each with its source. Updated as new data comes out.

Reviewed Sept 27, 2026
Sources: CDC, WHO, FDA

In hospitals

1 in 38
U.S. hospital patients had at least one healthcare-associated infection (HAI) on a given day in 2023.
CDC, 2026
518,000
Estimated HAIs in U.S. hospitals in 2023. The most common: pneumonia, surgical site and gastrointestinal infections.
CDC, 2026
27%
How much less likely a hospital patient was to have an HAI in 2023 than in 2015 (1 in 31).
CDC, 2026
7 & 15
Out of every 100 hospital patients get at least one HAI in high-income and in low- and middle-income countries.
WHO, 2022
1 in 10
Patients who get a healthcare-associated infection die from it, on average.
WHO, 2022
70%
Of healthcare-associated infections can be prevented with strong infection prevention programs, including hand hygiene.
WHO, 2022
10,600
U.S. deaths from MRSA in 2017, among 323,700 cases in hospitalized patients. Estimated cost: $1.7 billion.
CDC, 2019

Hand hygiene compliance

40%
Median hand hygiene compliance among hospital staff, across 96 studies.
Erasmus et al., 2010
38% → 63%
Compliance in one study after alcohol-based hand sanitizer was introduced.
Cited by CDC
16.9% → 9.9%
Share of patients with a hospital-acquired infection at Geneva University Hospitals after compliance rose from 48% to 66%.
Pittet et al., Lancet 2000

Handwashing in everyday life

23–40%
Fewer people get sick with diarrhea when handwashing is taught and practiced.
CDC
16–21%
Fewer respiratory illnesses, like colds, in the general population.
CDC
29–57%
Fewer school days missed for stomach illness among schoolchildren.
CDC
19%
Estimated global rate of handwashing after using the toilet.
CDC
1.8 million
Children under 5 die each year from diarrheal disease and pneumonia, illnesses handwashing helps prevent.
CDC

Hands up close

61,368
Bacteria per cm² under the fingernails, versus 847 on the palm: more than 70 times as dense.
McGinley et al., 1988
1 trillion
Germs that can be in a single gram of human feces.
CDC

The numbers to remember

20 sec
Minimum scrubbing time with soap and water.
CDC
60%
Minimum alcohol content for hand sanitizer.
CDC
40–60 sec
Length of WHO’s full handwashing procedure, from wetting to drying.
WHO

Using these numbers

You’re welcome to use these statistics in articles, presentations and training. Please cite the original source listed with each number, and link to this page if it helped: HandHygiene.net, “Hand hygiene statistics,” https://www.handhygiene.net/hand-hygiene-statistics.html.

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Sources