If staff are not familiar with alcohol-based handrubs at the point-of-care what approach should be taken to convince them of its effectiveness?
In the early days of alcohol-based handrub, there was a perception amongst some health-care workers that this was a less effective way to clean the hands than, for example, using soap and water. In fact, some health-care workers will have been exposed to the recommendation that hands should be washed with soap and water prior to applying alcohol. Today, the evidence very clearly supports the view that it is perfectly acceptable and indeed preferable to use an alcohol-based handrub on its own (without a prior handwash) as long as the hands are clean to the naked eye, and there has not been contact with body fluids. Alcohol-based hand rubs are efficacious, time saving and kinder to the skin than soap and water. They increase the reliability and likelihood of compliance occurring, and have a high impact on reducing the burden of HAI. In summary, many studies have compared alcohol-based handrubs and antibacterial soap and water. In 90% of such studies, alcohol rubs reduced bacterial and vi
