Hand Hygiene - Inside the Science

Getting the most critical aspect of your infection control regime right!
To combat the spread of infection within the healthcare setting, exemplary hand hygiene is of critical importance. How frequently hands are washed and how they are washed matter. An element often overlooked is how they are dried, this is key to preventing the spread of infection.
Two renowned global experts, Marc Van Ranst, M.D, PH.D. Professor in Clinical and Epidemiological Virology and Mark Wilcox OBE. Professor of Medical Microbiology have analysed and condensed fifteen years of research and present you with real evidence to inform hand hygiene best practice.
Speakers:
Marc Van Ranst, M.D, PH.D
Professor in Clinical and Epidemiological Virology KU Leuven Belgium Governmental Advisor Covid Crisis
Professor Van Ranst heads the Department of Laboratory Medicine at University Hospitals Leuven, directs the AIDS reference laboratory and several national reference labs, and formerly led the Clinical and Epidemiological Virology Laboratory at Rega Institute until 2023. He contributed to the Belgian Superior Health Council from 1999 to 2014, leading the Vaccinations Working Group between 2007 and 2014. As the Interministerial Commissioner for Influenza from 2007 to 2016, he oversaw Belgium's flu pandemic preparations and managed the 2009-2010 Swine Flu crisis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he has served on expert advisory boards and provided public guidance internationally. His research involves supervising PhD and master's students in studying virus epidemiology and molecular evolution. Van Ranst has published over 500 scientific papers, authored chapters on viral molecular evolution, and written a children’s book "Monstrous Microbes" translated into seven languages. He teaches virology, epidemiology, and bioinformatics in Belgium and holds an affiliate position at Charles University in Prague. His accolades include the European Clinical Virology Heine-Medin award, a doctor honoris causa from the University of Kalmar, Best Teacher Awards at the University of Leuven, a Career award in Science Communication from the Royal Academy of Sciences, and doctor honoris causa degrees from the Free University of Amsterdam, University of Leiden, and Radboud University of Nijmegen.
Mark Wilcox OBE
National Clinical Director for Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Prevention and Control.
NHS England
Mark Wilcox OBE is a prominent figure in healthcare, particularly in infection prevention and control. As Chair of PHE's Rapid Review Panel, he evaluates products for the NHS and plays a key role in the UK's fight against Healthcare Associated Infection and Antimicrobial Resistance. His expertise has been instrumental during the COVID-19 pandemic, serving on the UK's Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (SAGE) and co-chairing the DHSC's Technical Validation Group for COVID-19 tests. Recognized for his contributions with an OBE in the 2024 New Year Honours, Mark also contributes to several advisory boards, including the Medical Research Council's Infections and Immunity Board and the EU's COMBACTE-NET consortium. His work at NHS Improvement focuses on reducing healthcare associated infections, and he has advised on numerous health projects and initiatives across the UK and Europe. At the University of Leeds, he leads a research team investigating aspects of infection, resistance, and new antimicrobial agents, contributing significantly to clinical trials and scholarly publications in the field.