Should Alcohol-Based Handrub Use Be Customized to Healthcare Workers' Hand Size?

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2016 Feb;37(2):219-21. doi: 10.1017/ice.2015.271. Epub 2015 Nov 24.

Abstract

We evaluated whether the volume of alcohol-based handrub used by healthcare workers affects the residual bacterial concentration on their hands according to hand size. Bacterial reduction was significantly lower for large hands compared with small hands, which suggests a need for customizing the volume of alcohol-based handrub for hand hygiene.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Infective Agents, Local / pharmacology*
  • Colony Count, Microbial
  • Cross Infection / prevention & control
  • Escherichia coli / drug effects*
  • Ethanol / pharmacology*
  • Hand
  • Hand Disinfection / methods*
  • Health Personnel
  • Hospitals, University
  • Humans
  • Infection Control / methods*
  • Linear Models
  • Switzerland

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents, Local
  • Ethanol