Editing Hygiene (section)

== Medical hygiene ==
Medical hygiene pertains to hygiene practices related to the administration of [[medicine]] and medical care that prevents or minimizes the spread of disease.

Medical hygiene practices include:
* [[Isolation (health care)|isolation]] of infectious persons or materials to prevent spread of infection
* [[Sterilization (microbiology)|sterilization]] of instruments used in [[surgery|surgical procedures]]
* proper [[Bandage|bandaging]] and [[dressing (medical)|dressing]] of [[injuries]]
* safe [[waste disposal|disposal]] of [[hazardous waste|medical waste]]
* disinfection of reusables (i.e., linen, pads, uniforms)
* scrubbing up, [[Hand washing|handwashing]], especially in an operating room, but in more general health-care settings as well, where diseases can be transmitted
* ethanol-based sanitizers

Most of these practices were developed in the 19th century and were well-established by the mid-20th century. Some procedures (such as disposal of [[medical waste]]) were refined in response to late-20th century [[disease outbreaks]], notably [[AIDS]] and [[Ebola]].