Efficacy of hand hygiene by use of different handwashing solutions and drying methods- Report from Western India

Abstract

To determine efficacy of different hand washing solutions and various drying methods. This is a prospective study carried out on health care workers at ICU, & Wards in the Tertiary care hospital, from western India for a period of 1 year 6 months. The study was approved by ethical committee of Medical College and Hospital. Two hand hygiene procedures were compared in this study. Handrubbing with alcohol based solution and handwashing with unmedicated soap. Fingertips of the HCW 120 HCWs were included in the study. The average reduction in the number of colony-forming units after handwashing was 80% for alcoholic solution and 43.16% for soap and water. The average reduction in the number of colony-forming units was 49.10 when hands were dried with paper towels as compared to 37.23 with cloth towels. CONS were the main bacteria colonising the hands of 60% of health care workers. Alcoholic hand rub is effective and should be followed as standard method for hand hygiene of HCWs in the hospital. It will help to reduce transmission of HAIs and to prevent the spread of antibiotic drug resistance.