America’s health care system has battled hospital-borne infections for years with little success.

Some 80,000 Americans a year die from hospital infections. And a new study may have found the answer.

When no one is watching, doctors and nurses stop washing or disinfecting their hands.

When they don’t wash their hands as they move between patients, they transmit bacteria. These germs can cause deadly infections. They include staph, MRSA, and C.diff.

When they knew they weren’t being observed by a colleague, health care providers cleaned their hands only 22% of the time they were supposed to.

The lack of handwashing surprised even those on the front lines of the war against hospital infections.

One nurse, Lisa Hansford, says she notices it while working. “When we would come on the floor, I would notice that the nurses or providers were not using the alcohol,” she said. “Then they would glance up and see me and bend over backwards to lather up.”

How to Protect Yourself from Hospital Infections

Hospitals have been trying to clean up their act for years. But the problem is still so bad that in May the U.S. Centers for Disease Control launched a “Clean Hands Count Campaign” to promote hand hygiene adherence in hospitals.

What’s the best way to protect yourself? Since health care workers are clearly unable to police themselves, it falls on patients to demand safety.

Simply do this: Before a health care worker touches you, ask politely if they have washed their hands. Wearing gloves is not a safe substitute for handwashing.

Dr. Clifford McDonald is associate director for science at the CDC. He said: “If we can get the patients more involved—and get them to be able to speak up—that is really the main thing.”

Patients shouldn’t feel awkward about asking, he says. Health care workers know they should be washing. Even though it might feel uncomfortable, it could save your life.