Researchers Determine the Correct Way to Use Hand Sanitizer
Basel University Hospital: 15 seconds is enough to effectively disinfect hands with sanitizer — twice as fast as the WHO method.
Basel University Hospital: 15 seconds is enough to effectively disinfect hands with sanitizer — twice as fast as the WHO method.
Many people use hand sanitizer (an alcohol-based disinfectant gel), considering it an effective and simple way to disinfect their hands. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends sanitizing hands with a six-step procedure that takes 30 seconds.
First, the gel is dispensed (a full palmful). Then the palms are rubbed against each other. The next step is to place the right palm over the left and interlace the fingers. The process is then repeated, but with the left hand on top. The palms are rubbed together with the fingers still interlaced. The fifth step is to rub the back of the fingers against the palm of the other hand. The thumb must not be forgotten — it should also be coated with gel. Once the hands are dry, the disinfection process is complete.
Researchers at Basel University Hospital decided to test the effectiveness of this approach. They found that disinfection can be sped up. Twenty volunteers aged 18–51 were recruited. They were asked to clean their hands using four different techniques. One group of volunteers used the 30-second WHO method, the second used the same method but completed it in 15 seconds.
The third group used a three-step method for 30 seconds (the gel is applied to one palm, the palms are rubbed together, and the gel is spread over the entire surface of the hands until completely dry), and the fourth used the same approach for 15 seconds. After each application, the scientists counted the bacteria remaining on the hands. It turned out that 15 seconds was entirely sufficient to clean the hands effectively.
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