Final answer:
The CDC recommends washing hands for a minimum of 20 seconds to effectively remove pathogens and maintain hygiene.
Step-by-step explanation:
The minimum time recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for workers to wash their hands is at least 20 seconds. It is crucial for maintaining public health, particularly in clinical settings and during activities such as food handling, caring for the sick, and after contact with surfaces that could be contaminated. Proper handwashing involves a series of steps including wetting hands with clean water, applying soap, scrubbing hands for 20 seconds, rinsing, and then drying hands with a clean towel or allowing them to air-dry.
To help time the 20 seconds, the CDC suggests humming the "Happy Birthday" song from beginning to end twice. This practice is an easy way to estimate the time without using a physical timer. Remembering to wash the commonly missed areas such as thumbs, wrists, areas between the fingers, and under the fingernails is also essential.