REVERSE Project Featured in WHO Hand Hygiene Day Webinar
Following the momentum of ESCMID Global 2026, the REVERSE project took to the global stage on 5 May to support the World Health Organisation's (WHO) Hand Hygiene Day.
Under the theme "Action saves lives - safer care starts with clean hands," the WHO called upon healthcare providers and policymakers to refresh their commitment to infection prevention and control (IPC). A central focus of this year's campaign was the transition from policy to practise - ensuring that hand hygiene is not just a guideline, but a fundemental component of National IPC Action Plans and facility-level Standard Operating Procedues (SOPs).
Bridging the Gap with Implementation Science
REVERSE partner Dr María Teresa Pérez-Rodríguez (Hospital Universitario Álvaro Cunqueiro, Spain) was invited by the WHO as a featured expert to present during the "Hand Hygiene and IPC Improvement in Action" session.
Representing the REVERSE project, Dr Pérez-Rodríguez discussed the critical role of implementation science in improving hand hygiene compliance. While the "why" of hand hygiene is well-understood, the "how" remains a challenge in many clinical settings. Her presentation showcased how the REVERSE project's evidence-based IPC bundles are designed to overcome implementation barriers, ensuring that life-saving interventions are successfully integrated into daily clinical workflows.
This invitation represents a significant milestome for REVERSE, demonstrating that the project's strategies for tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are being recognised as gold-standard practices on the global stage.
A Global Exchange of Innovation
The webinar provided a platform for REVERSE to sit alongside global leaders in IPC. The programme featured a diverse array of case studies and technical updates, including:
- The Global Picture: An overview of hand hygiene progress in 2026 from WHO Headquarters.
- Technological Advancement: The introduction of the ECDC's new hand hygiene monitoring app, HyFive.
- Implementation in Practice: A detailed look at the implementation of Hand Hygiene Acceleration (HHA) in 13 Pacific Island countries, presented by Margaret Leong (Fiji).
- Future Frontiers: Silvana Gastaldi (Italy) showcased an exploration of how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being utilised to monitor and improve hand hygiene in Italy.
By contributing to the high-level dialogue, the REVERSE project continues to conribute towards translating technical excellence into measurable improvements in patient safety and health outcomes across Europe and beyond.
Watch the Session
If you missed the live broadcast, you can explore the webinar resources and recordings via the official WHO event page below.