This simple poster (available in two color options) shows three simple steps to cleaning hands with alcohol-based handrubs. Show 
Alcohol-based handrubKeep your hands clean!
Alcohol-based handrubs provide several advantages over hand washing with soap and water:
How do you use it?It is as easy as 1, 2, 3... When decontaminating hands with an alcohol-based handrub use an amount of alcohol-based handrub sufficient to cover all surfaces of hands.
[Food handlers in restaurants, schools, deli's and grocery stores must wash their hands with soap and water before applying hand sanitizers. Minn Rules Chap. 4626.0070 - 4626.0085] Also available in color:
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Updated: 11/18/2022 Alcohol-based handrub is not always the recommended hand hygiene product, there are some situations when washing hands with soap and water is preferred: Bacterial sporesAlcohol has virtually no activity against bacterial spores. Washing hands with soap and water is preferred in this situation because it is the best method of physically removing spores from the hands. However, the vegetative form of Clostridium difficile is highly sensitive to alcohol-based handrub. The November 2018 ASID / AICA position statement on Infection Control Guidelines for Patients with Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI) in Healthcare Settings recommends the primary use of alcohol-based handrub in accordance with the WHO 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene when caring for patients with CDI. Gloves should be used during the care of patients with CDI, to minimise spore contamination, and if hands become soiled, or gloves have not been used, then hands must be washed with soap and water. Non-enveloped (non-lipophilic) virusesAlcohol has a poor activity against some non-enveloped viruses. (e.g. rotavirus, norovirus, polio, Hepatitis A). However, there is conflicting evidence suggesting that alcohol-based handrub is more effective than soaps in reducing virus titres on finger pads. Thus, in norovirus outbreaks it is usually best to reinforce the use of alcohol-based handrub, unless hands are visibly soiled – when soap and water handwashing is preferred. Other organismsAlcohol has a poor activity against tropical parasites, and protozoan oocysts. Handwashing is preferred. Alcohol-based handrub is the hand hygiene product of choice Alcohol-based handrub is the gold standard of care for hand hygiene practice in healthcare settings, whereas handwashing is reserved for situations when hands are visibly soiled, or when gloves have not been worn in the care of a patient with C. difficile. Alcohol-based handrub is the hand hygiene product of choice for all standard aseptic procedures. Surgical scrub is required for surgical procedures. For definitions on standard vs. surgical aseptic technique see Section 3.6.1 of the 2019 Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infections in Healthcare. Alcohol-based handrub is also the recommended product for the prevention of intravascular catheter related infections. Alcohol-based handrubs should be used (when hands are visibly clean) instead of handwashing because they:
Since 2002 use of alcohol-based handrubs has been the recommended product for hand hygiene in healthcare settings. Hand washing should be reserved for situations when hands are visibly soiled. Alcohol-based handrubs have excellent antimicrobial activity against Gram positive and Gram negative vegetative bacteria, and good antimicrobial activity against enveloped viruses. Alcohol solutions containing 60-80% alcohol are most effective. It has been well established that alcohols effectively reduce the bacterial counts on hands better than soap and water (1). Alcohol-based handrubs are more effective against most bacteria and many viruses than either medicated or non-medicated soaps (see Figure 1 below). Figure 1: Effectiveness of different HH products in reducing bacterial counts after 30 sec. use. References: World Health Organisation. WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care. In: World Alliance for Patient Safety, editor. First Global Patient Safety Challenge Clean Care is Safer Care. 1 ed. Geneva: World Health Organisation Press; 2009. Under what circumstances are alcoholUnless hands are visibly soiled, an alcohol-based hand rub is preferred over soap and water in most clinical situations due to evidence of better compliance compared to soap and water. Hand rubs are generally less irritating to hands and, in the absence of a sink, are an effective method of cleaning hands.
When should alcoholUse an alcohol-based handrub when your hands are not visibly soiled. Wash your hands with soap and water when your hands are visibly soiled.
In which situation is an alcohol-Alcohol-based hand rubs can be used if hands are not visibly soiled. If the hands are visibly soiled, the nurse should wash hands with soap and hot water.
When should alcoholAlcohol-based hand sanitizers quickly reduce the number of microbes but do not eliminate all types of pathogens. They are effective for reducing microorganisms on health care worker hands when:hands are not visibly dirtythey contain at least 60% alcohol.
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