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Clinical Trial
. 2002 Aug 17;325(7360):362.
doi: 10.1136/bmj.325.7360.362.

Efficacy of handrubbing with alcohol based solution versus standard handwashing with antiseptic soap: randomised clinical trial

Emmanuelle Girou  1 , Sabrina Loyeau, Patrick Legrand, Françoise Oppein, Christian Brun-Buisson
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Efficacy of handrubbing with alcohol based solution versus standard handwashing with antiseptic soap: randomised clinical trial

Emmanuelle Girou et al. BMJ. .

Abstract

Objective: To compare the efficacy of handrubbing with an alcohol based solution versus conventional handwashing with antiseptic soap in reducing hand contamination during routine patient care.

Design: Randomised controlled trial during daily nursing sessions of 2 to 3 hours.

Setting: Three intensive care units in a French university hospital.

Participants: 23 healthcare workers.

Interventions: Handrubbing with alcohol based solution (n=12) or handwashing with antiseptic soap (n=11) when hand hygiene was indicated before and after patient care. Imprints taken of fingertips and palm of dominant hand before and after hand hygiene procedure. Bacterial counts quantified blindly.

Main outcome measures: Bacterial reduction of hand contamination.

Results: With handrubbing the median percentage reduction in bacterial contamination was significantly higher than with handwashing (83% v 58%, P=0.012), with a median difference in the percentage reduction of 26% (95% confidence interval 8% to 44%). The median duration of hand hygiene was 30 seconds in each group.

Conclusions: During routine patient care handrubbing with an alcohol based solution is significantly more efficient in reducing hand contamination than handwashing with antiseptic soap.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic schedule of monitoring sampling sessions (one participant allocated to handrubbing did not use it on one occasion because of visible soiling with body fluids—the sole contraindication for using alcohol based solutions)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Comparison of percentage reduction in bacterial contamination of participants' hands obtained after handrubbing with alcohol based solution or after handwashing with antiseptic soap. Results expressed as median and interquartile range; difference between two groups significant (P=0.012)
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References

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