What it means to you: A recent study, published in U.S. News and World Report, showed that caregivers only washed their hands 28 percent of the time after touching a patient, though those same caregivers believed they washed their hands 85 percent of the time.

The scoop: The Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing's hand-hygiene ideas, when bundled together, nearly eliminated CRBSIs in one hospital. Another solution that saves time and kills bacteria is fast-drying alcohol-based hand gel. In some cases, it's being recommended to replace soap and water. Read a comprehensive report in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology on when to use antimicrobial soap or alcohol-based hand rubs. The Hand Hygiene Resource Center notes more than 20 studies that suggest alcohol-based hand rubs reduce the number of bacteria present better than soap. Click here for an easy-to-use guide from the Hand Hygiene Resource Center.

Learn more: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides free fact sheets, posters and guidelines. Get informed.