The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has taken the lead to facilitate the formation of the Clean Hands Coalition (CHC). This national multi-disciplined team of advocates will develop a realistic long-term hand hygiene solution. Its ranks consist of senior professionals from the regulatory, commercial and academic communities. Using a science based approach and the model of the Healthy People 2010, the CHC will focus on hand hygiene as the primary intervention to increase the general quality and years of a healthy life.