What is a best practice for hand hygiene technique?

• A. Use soap and water or alcohol-based sanitizer, rub for at least 20 seconds or until dry, covering all surfaces
• B. Wash hands for 5 seconds with cold water
• C. Rinse with hot water only
• D. Wipe hands on a dirty towel

Answer: (A)

Hand hygiene relies on combining cleansing action with enough time and full coverage to remove or kill germs. The best practice is to use soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and rub the hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds or until they are completely dry, making sure to cover all surfaces—palms, backs of the hands, between the fingers, and under the nails. Soap helps lift microbes from the skin, and the friction during rubbing physically removes them; sanitizer works by disinfecting when there isn’t visible dirt and if the alcohol content is sufficient. The key is thorough coverage and a duration long enough for the cleansing action to work.

Five seconds of washing with cold water is too short to remove microbes effectively. Rinsing with hot water only doesn’t provide the cleansing action needed. Wiping hands on a dirty towel introduces more germs instead of reducing them.