When washing hands with soap and water, wet hands first with water, apply an amount of product recommended by the manufacturer to hands, and rub hands together vigorously for at least 15 seconds, covering all surfaces of the hands and fingers. How long should it take to wash my hands with soap and water – 15 or 20 seconds?.Remember to clean your thumbs, finger tips, and in between the fingers – these areas are commonly missed when cleaning hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizer. This should take around 20 seconds, a good indicator that the right amount has been used. When using alcohol-based hand sanitizer, put product on your hands and rub hands together. Is there a technique to cleaning hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizer?.difficile in your facility, wash your hands with soap and water after removing gloves. In addition, when there’s an outbreak of C. Healthcare providers should always use gloves when caring for patients with C. difficile, so how should healthcare providers manage hand hygiene when caring for patients with C. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer doesn’t kill C.To learn more, check out CDC’s Show Me the Science webpage. Compared to soap and water, alcohol-based sanitizers are more effective and less drying to the hands than frequent use of soap and water. What is the preferred method for healthcare providers to clean their hands – soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer?Īlcohol-based hand sanitizer is the preferred method (see exceptions for C.The following are a few of the most commonly asked questions on hand hygiene. 1ĬDC’s Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion often receives inquiries from healthcare providers and staff asking for clarification on CDC recommendations and guidelines, including hand hygiene in healthcare facilities. Yet, studies show that on average, healthcare providers clean their hands less than half of the times they should. The science is clear: clean hands can protect patients and healthcare providers from dangerous and deadly infections. Associate Director for Science, CDC Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion

Healthcare joining hands