Int J Infect Control 2012, v8:i2 doi: 10.3396/ijic.v8i2.020.12 Page 1 of 2 not for citation purposes What is the distance between saying and doing? Carneiro et al. Marcelo Carneiro 1 , Manuela Suzana Persch 1 , Jenifer Grotto Souza 1 , Eliane Carlosso Krummenauer 2 , Janete Aparecida Alves Machado 2 1 Santa Cruz do Sul University, Brazil 2 Santa Cruz Hospital, Brazil International Journal of Infection Control ISSN 1996-9783 www.ijic.info doi: 10.3396/ijic.v8i2.020.12 What is the distance between saying and doing? Letter to tHe edItor Corresponding author Prof. Marcelo Carneiro, Md, MSc Faculty of Medicine, Santa Cruz do Sul University, Santa Cruz do Sul - rio Grande do Sul Brazil email: carneiromarcelo@yahoo.com.br Key words CroSS INFeCtIoN – prevention and control; HANdWASHING; INSerVICe trAINING; HeALtH PerSoNNeL – education Hand hygiene (HH) is a simple action of great importance in the prevention of nosocomial infections. Studies show that the hands of healthcare professionals are a reservoir of pathogens with deleterious effects for both patients and workers. despite evidence demonstrating the magnitude in the chain of transmission of nosocomial infections and the effects of HH procedures to reduce these indicators, many professionals have a passive attitude towards the problem, which leads to discussions on the difference between saying and doing it.¹ regardless of the health service structure, of the guidelines provided and available resources, the problem with poor adherence to HH habit is evident in most health services. Although there is a unanimous perception amongst healthcare workers on its importance, studies have shown that up to 70% of professionals perceive education as the most important strategy in implementing these practices.² We also observed the relevance regarding microbial resistance through the associated use with microbial control in reducing rates of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa.³ the HH habit is a topic discussed since childhood that is no strictly followed by a high percentage of the population, including health professionals, which makes us wonder: What happens between the recognition of a practice as essential and the capacity to make it into a habit? What leads properly trained, encouraged and, in theory, aware individuals not to