Washing your hands is uncomfortable at first

Ignaz Semmelweis discovered that by simply washing your hands you can reduce the spread of germs.

A remarkable discovery in the 1850s. And it helped lay the groundwork for germ theory.

Except, it took the medical community 20 years to change its habits.

The question is, was it painful to change or just uncomfortable?

The longer we wait the more painful it becomes.

[How many would have been spared if they simply washed their hands? Choose your metaphor.]