For their study, researchers compared three hand hygiene protocols: alcohol handrubs with alcohol covering all hand surfaces; alcohol handrubs using the standard 7-step technique; and chlorhexidine handrubs using the standard 7-step technique. Bacterial samples were taken from 60 medical and 60 nursing staff before and after each protocol.
The results showed all three protocols successfully reduced bacteria on medical and nursing staff members’ hands. However, alcohol handrubs covering all hand surfaces took less time (26 seconds) than alcohol hand rubs using the 7-step method (38.5 seconds) or chlorhexidine handrubs (75.5 seconds).
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