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H A N D
H Y G I E N E
easier access to hand hygiene products, are easy to use, save time and are less damaging to skin than soap, water and paper towels are.
Although scrubbing is a venerable old practice, data are accumulating that show rubbing to be better at reducing bacterial burden. Loeb and colleagues conducted a randomized trial in which they compared the use of the same antibacterial soap product when administered with a brush and by rubbing.4 At 45 minutes after this hand preparation, the rubbing resulted in lower bacterial counts than the use of the scrub brush with the same product did.
Other studies have since compared surgical hand rubs employing alcohol-based products with traditional hand scrubs. Out of 5 studies that examined bactericidal activity, each reported that hand rubs outperformed traditional scrubs in their efficacy.
