Staff at Lewisham and Queen Elizabeth Hospital have been appearing in posters to spread the message that cleaning your hands could save lives.
 
Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust are promoting the importance of good hand hygiene in protecting patients, visitors and staff at its hospitals.
 
The idea is to reduce infection rates by using soap and water when washing your hands every time you touch animals, blow your nose or cough into your hands.
 
Other advice such as washing your hands before and after preparing food or using the bathroom is also considered key to preventing the spread of infection.
 
Senior matron for infection prevention and control Sheila Howard said: "It is really important that everybody knows the importance of keeping hands clean to maintain patient, visitor and staff safety."
 
She added: "Getting the basic right will not only stop infections but save lives."