which method of cleaning your hands is most preferred in health care settings?
An alcohol-based hand sanitizer (alcohol-based hand rub) is the most preferred method of cleaning hands in healthcare settings when hands are not visibly soiled.
Quick Scoop
In modern hospitals and clinics, alcohol-based hand sanitizer is recommended as the primary method of hand hygiene for routine patient care, as long as hands are not visibly dirty or contaminated with body fluids.
Why alcohol-based sanitizer is preferred
- More effective at rapidly killing many healthcare-associated germs than plain soap and water in routine use.
- Faster and easier to use at the point of care, so staff are more likely to comply with hand hygiene recommendations.
- Less irritating and drying to skin than repeated washing with soap and water, improving skin condition over time.
- Widespread adoption as the main method has been associated with reductions in certain healthcare-associated infections, such as MRSA and VRE.
When soap and water are required
Even though sanitizer is preferred most of the time, guidelines still stress situations where soap and water should be used:
- When hands are visibly dirty (blood, body fluids, dirt, or other soil).
- After using the restroom and before eating.
- After caring for patients with certain types of diarrhea or vomiting where spores or non-enveloped viruses may be involved (many facilities still recommend washing even though some authorities still state ABHS can be used for C. difficile).
- Periodically between many uses of alcohol hand rub to remove buildup of emollients and residual soil.
How this plays out in daily practice
In a typical shift, a nurse or doctor might have dozens of “hand hygiene opportunities” per hour, such as before touching a patient, before aseptic procedures, after exposure to body fluids, after touching a patient, and after touching patient surroundings.
- For most of these moments, they use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer dispenser mounted near the bed, door, or workstation.
- They switch to soap and water at the sink when hands are visibly contaminated, after bathroom use, or as required by local protocols for certain infections.
Simple takeaway
- Most preferred in healthcare: alcohol-based hand sanitizer (alcohol-based hand rub) for routine, non-soiled hands.
- Still essential: soap and water when hands are visibly dirty or in specific high-risk situations.
If you’re answering an exam or quiz, the best single-line answer is:
“Alcohol-based hand sanitizer (alcohol-based hand rub) is the preferred method of hand hygiene in healthcare settings when hands are not visibly soiled.”
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.