Hand washing may sound simple, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has labeled hand washing "the single most important means of preventing the spread of infection." Unwashed hands are a critical factor in the spread of bacteria, pathogens, disease-causing viruses, and food borne disease. Many people also pick up diseases while receiving healthcare because they or their care providers do not properly wash their hands. (1998 GA Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health)
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