Chapter 4: Infection prevention and control
Skip chapter table of contents and go to main content
4.2 Hand decontamination using an alcohol‐based handrub
Essential equipment
- Alcohol‐based handrub
Pre‐procedure
ActionRationale
- 1.
Dispense the amount of alcohol‐based handrub indicated in the manufacturer's instructions into the palm of one hand. If hands are large, a greater amount may be needed to ensure coverage.Too much handrub will take longer to dry and may consequently cause delays; too little will not decontaminate hands adequately. E
- 2.Rub the alcohol‐based handrub into all areas of the hands until the hands are dry, using the illustrated actions in Action figure 4.12.To ensure all areas of the hands are decontaminated. Alcohol is a rapid‐acting disinfectant with the added advantage that it evaporates, leaving the hands dry. This prevents contamination of equipment while facilitating the application of gloves (WHO [124], C).
Figure 4.12 Alcohol‐based handrub hand hygiene technique for visibly clean hands. After applying a palmful of the product in a cupped hand: (1) rub hands palm to palm. (2) Rub right palm over left dorsum with interlaced fingers and vice versa. (3) Rub palm to palm with fingers interlaced. (4) Rub the backs of the fingers against the opposing palms with fingers interlocked. (5) Rub rotationally, backwards and forwards, with clasped fingers of right hand in left palm and vice versa. (6) Rub rotationally with the left thumb clasped in the right palm and vice versa. Source: Reproduced from Stewardson et al. ([111]). https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0105866. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Figure 4.12 Alcohol‐based handrub hand hygiene technique for visibly clean hands. After applying a palmful of the product in a cupped hand: (1) rub hands palm to palm. (2) Rub right palm over left dorsum with interlaced fingers and vice versa. (3) Rub palm to palm with fingers interlaced. (4) Rub the backs of the fingers against the opposing palms with fingers interlocked. (5) Rub rotationally, backwards and forwards, with clasped fingers of right hand in left palm and vice versa. (6) Rub rotationally with the left thumb clasped in the right palm and vice versa. Source: Reproduced from Stewardson et al. ([111]). https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0105866. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
