When should you decontaminate your hands with an alcohol hand rub?

As you go about your everyday life, germs accumulate on your hands. After you touch your eyes, nose or mouth, germs carried there can cause infections. Frequent hand washing is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick and spreading illness.

Good hand hygiene

If you care for babies, older people or sick people, hand washing is especially important because it helps prevent the spread of infections such as COVID-19, colds, the flu and gastroenteritis.

Babies and children need to wash their hands too. If your child is too young to stand at a hand basin, you can wash their hands with disposable wipes or a wet, soapy flannel, but always make sure all soap is rinsed off and their hands thoroughly dried.

Hand washing is also one of the most important ways to prevent the spread of infection among people in hospital. People’s immune systems are often weakened after illness or surgery, so infections are easy to catch and hard to treat. They may become life-threatening.

When to wash your hands

Wash your hands before touching anything that needs to stay clean, and after touching anything that might contaminate your hands.

Examples include:

• when your hands are visibly dirty
• after going to the toilet
• after helping a child go to the toilet, or changing a nappy
• after handling rubbish, household or garden chemicals, or anything that could be contaminated
• before you prepare or eat food
• after touching raw meat
• after blowing your nose or sneezing, or wiping a child’s nose
• after patting an animal
• after cleaning up blood, vomit or other body fluids
• after cleaning the bathroom
• before and after you visit a sick person in hospital
• before and after touching a wound, cut or rash
• before breastfeeding or feeding a child
• before giving medication or applying ointment
• when holding a sick child

Hand washing tips

Warm, soapy water is the best option for washing your hands when they are visibly dirty. Follow these simple tips on good hand hygiene.

To wash your hands:

1. Wet hands with running water (preferably warm).
2. Apply soap or liquid soap – enough to cover all of your hands. Normal soap is just as good as antibacterial soap.
3. Rub your hands together for at least 20 seconds.
4. Make sure you cover all surfaces, including the backs of your hands and in between your fingers.
5. Rinse hands, making sure you remove all soap, and turn off the tap using the towel or paper towel.
6. Dry your hands thoroughly with a paper towel, a clean hand towel or an air dryer if you are in a public toilet.

Using a waterless hand sanitiser

An alcohol-based hand rub (hand sanitiser) is a good way to clean your hands if you don't have access to soap and water. Hand sanitiser is only effective if your hands have no visible dirt on them.

To use hand sanitiser:

1. Put about half a teaspoon of the product in the palm of your hand, rub your hands together, covering all the surfaces of your hand, including between your fingers.
2. Keep rubbing until your hands are dry (about 20 to 30 seconds).

Alcohol-based hand sanitiser can be poisonous if swallowed. Follow these tips to keep kids safe around hand sanitiser.

Other tips for good hand hygiene

• Carry some hand sanitiser with you and use it whenever you want to decontaminate your hands, for example, after using public transport.
• Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow, instead of into your hands.
• Wear disposable gloves before handling dirty nappies or cleaning up blood or any other body fluid.
• Be a good role model and encourage children to wash their hands properly and frequently.
• When using cloth towels to dry your hands, hang the towel up to dry after each use, and launder the towels regularly.

Quality statement 3: Hand decontamination

People receive healthcare from healthcare workers who decontaminate their hands immediately before and after every episode of direct contact or care.

Effective hand decontamination, even after wearing gloves, results in significant reductions in the carriage of potential pathogens on the hands and decreases the incidence of preventable healthcare-associated infections, leading in turn to a reduction in morbidity and mortality. Hand decontamination is considered to have a high impact on outcomes that are important to patients. Although hand hygiene has improved over recent years, remaining misconceptions about this standard principle of infection control are reported and good practice is still not universal.

The following measures can be used to assess the quality of care or service provision specified in the statement. They are examples of how the statement can be measured, and can be adapted and used flexibly.

a) Evidence of local arrangements to ensure the availability of facilities for hand decontamination.

Data source: No routinely collected national data for this measure has been identified. Data can be collected from information recorded locally by organisations, for example, from procurement records.

b) Evidence of local arrangements to ensure that all healthcare workers receive training in hand decontamination.

Data source: No routinely collected national data for this measure has been identified. Data can be collected from information recorded locally by healthcare professionals and provider organisations, for example, from training records.

c) Evidence of local arrangements to ensure that regular local hand hygiene observation audits are undertaken.

Data source: No routinely collected national data for this measure has been identified. Data can be collected from information recorded locally by provider organisations, for example, records of hand hygiene observation audits.

Incidence of healthcare-associated infection.

Data source: 2020/21 NHS Outcomes Framework indicator 5.2.

Service providers ensure that healthcare workers are trained in effective hand decontamination techniques, and that handrub and handwashing facilities are available so that healthcare workers can decontaminate their hands immediately before and after every episode of direct contact or care.

Healthcare workers ensure that they are trained in effective hand decontamination techniques, and that they decontaminate their hands immediately before and after every episode of direct contact or care, even when gloves have been worn.

Commissioners ensure that they commission services in which healthcare workers are trained in effective hand decontamination techniques and decontaminate their hands immediately before and after every episode of direct contact or care, and that hand hygiene observation audits are carried out regularly.

People receiving healthcare are looked after by healthcare workers who always clean their hands thoroughly (using handrub or soap and water), both immediately before and immediately after coming into contact with the person or carrying out care.

Germs are everywhere! They can get onto hands and items we touch during daily activities and make us sick. Cleaning hands at key times with soap and water or hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol is one of the most important steps you can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to those around you.

There are important differences between washing hands with soap and water and using hand sanitizer. Soap and water work to remove all types of germs from hands, while sanitizer acts by killing certain germs on the skin. Although alcohol-based hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs in many situations, they should be used in the right situations. Soap and water are more effective than hand sanitizers at removing certain kinds of germs like norovirus, Cryptosporidium, and Clostridioides difficile, as well as chemicals.

Hand sanitizers also may not remove harmful chemicals, such as pesticides and heavy metals like lead.

Handwashing reduces the amounts of all types of germs, pesticides, and metals on hands. Knowing when to clean your hands and which method to use will give you the best chance of preventing sickness.

Selection of alcohol-based handrub products is the responsibility of individual health care facilities.

It is recommended that alcohol-based handrub products:

• Meet the EN1500 testing standard for bactericidal effect
• Have Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approval as a hand hygiene product for a healthcare setting.

Other factors that should also be considered include:

• Dermal tolerance
• Aesthetic preferences such as fragrance, colour, texture and ease of use
• Practical considerations such as availability, convenience and functioning of dispenser, and ability to prevent contamination
• Cost issues.

When to use alcohol-based handrub

Alcohol-based handrubs should be used (when hands are visibly clean) instead of handwashing because they:

• Substantially reduce bacterial count on hands

• Require less time than handwashing

• Are more accessible

• Are self-drying

• Are gentler on skin and cause less skin irritation and dryness than frequent soap and water washes, since all handrubs contain skin emollient (moisturisers).

Handwashing is reserved for situations when hands are visibly soiled, or when gloves have not been worn in the care of a patient with Clostridium difficile.

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.

Alcohol-based handrubs are more effective against most bacteria and many viruses than either medicated or non-medicated soaps. 

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 versus surgical aseptic technique refer to the 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. 

Cutaneous absorption of alcohol

Recent studies have demonstrated minimal rates of cutaneous alcohol absorption such that there should be no concern for healthcare workers. A study suggested that isopropanol might be less likely to be absorbed than ethanol. Thus, healthcare workers who are concerned about absorption for religious or other reasons may elect to use an alcohol-based handrub that contains isopropanol rather than ethanol.

When implementing a hand hygiene campaign with an alcohol-based handrub in a healthcare setting, it is important to provide opportunities for healthcare workers to raise concerns about the use of alcohol-based handrubs for cultural or religious reasons or due to alcohol abuse and help them to understand the evidence underlying its use, and to identify that address their concerns.

Alcohol-based handrub placement

Ensuring alcohol-based handrub is available at the point-of-care improves hand hygiene compliance.

Alcohol-based handrub should be easily accessible, generally within arm's reach of where patient care or treatment is taking place. 

Dispensers act as a visual cue for hand hygiene behaviour. Placement of alcohol-based handrub needs to be consistent and reliable. Clinical staff should assist with the decision-making process regarding placement of alcohol-based handrub, as they generally best understand the workflow in their area. 

Where possible, alcohol-based handrub should be placed at the foot of every bed or within each patient cubicle. When designing new healthcare facilities, consideration should be given to appropriate placement of alcohol-based handrubs so that healthcare workers can easily see and reach them.

Alcohol-based handrub dispensers should not be placed next to sinks, as this can cause confusion for healthcare workers who may think they need to rinse their hands with water after using alcohol-based handrub. 

The following locations are suggested for placement of alcohol-based handrub:

• On the end of every patient bed (fixed or removable brackets)
• Affixed to mobile work trolleys (for example, intravenous, drug and dressing trolleys)
• High staff traffic areas (for example, nurses' station, pan room, medication room and patient room entrance)
• Other multi-use patient-care areas, such as examination rooms and outpatient consultation rooms
• Entrances to each ward, outpatient clinic or department
• Public areas such as waiting rooms, receptions areas, hospital foyers, near elevator doors in high traffic areas.

A clear decision needs to be made about whose responsibility it is to replace empty alcohol-based handrub bottles. Workplace agreements or job descriptions may need to be changed to accommodate prompt replacement of these bottles. Alcohol-based handrub should never be decanted from one bottle into another as this can cause contamination.

Safe placement of alcohol-based handrub

There are a number of risks to patients and staff associated with the use of alcohol-based handrub, however, the benefits far outweigh the risks. A risk assessment should be undertaken and a management plan put in place. This particularly applies to clinical areas that manage patients with alcohol use disorders, and patients at risk of self harm. 

The following factors should be considered in relation to safe placement of alcohol-based handrub:

• The maximum size of an individual alcohol-based handrub dispenser should not exceed 500 mls
• No more than 80 individual alcohol-based handrub dispensers (each with a maximum capacity of 500 mls) should be installed within a single smoke compartment
• Dispensers should not project more than 15 cm into corridor egress
• Wall-mounted brackets should be located at a height of between 92 cms and 122 cm above the floor (avoid placing at eye level)
• Dispensers should not be located over carpeted areas, unless the area is protected by active sprinklers
• Dispensers should not be located over, or directly adjacent to, ignition sources such as electrical switches, power points, call buttons, or monitoring equipment
• Alcohol-based handrub dispensers should be separated from heat sources and electric motors
• Dispensers should be installed according to manufacturer’s recommendations and to minimise leaks or spills
• Regular maintenance of dispensers and brackets should occur in accordance with manufacturer’s guidelines
• Product usage signs should be clearly visible and laminated
• Regular monitoring of each area is recommended for misuse or removal of product
• Each facility should take adequate care regarding the placement of each dispenser so as to protect vulnerable populations, for example in psychiatric units, drug and alcohol units, paediatric units and units caring for cognitively impaired patients
• Alcohol-based handrub bottles should be designed so as to minimise evaporation due to the volatile nature of alcohols
• Site-specific instructions should be developed to manage adverse events, such as alcohol-based handrub ingestion, eye splashes or allergic reactions
• Bracket design is important, since alcohol-based handrub placement may be affected if brackets are ill-fitting (for example, varying sizes of bed rails can affect the efficacy of some brackets)
• Brackets that are removable, or product that can be removed from brackets easily, should be considered in case short term patient demands warrant it 
• Bracket availability and installation costs also require consideration.

Clinical area placement considerations

Special consideration is necessary when locating alcohol-based handrub in clinical areas where ingestion or accidental splashing of alcohol-based handrub is a particular risk. The placement of alcohol-based handrub needs to be aligned with the risk assessment of the individual patient or patient population.

Such areas include:

• Paediatrics – locate with care near children (see below)
• Mental health – locate with care near mental health patients, patients undergoing alcohol- or drug-withdrawal, or where there are cognitively impaired patients
• Public areas - place in high traffic areas with clear signage regarding appropriate use and the need for parents to carefully supervise their children.

Small personal bottles that healthcare workers carry with them may be more appropriate in some of the above areas.

Paediatric product placement

Alcohol-based handrub can be placed in paediatric wards. The placement of alcohol-based handrub within neonatal intensive care units, special care nurseries, maternity wards and on cots should follow the recommendations for product placement at point-of-care. 

Placement within general paediatric wards should remain within the point-of-care, except in situations of intellectual impairment or alcohol abuse where the child could unintentionally or intentionally harm themselves. Personal bottles of alcohol-based handrub could be used in any area where alcohol-based handrub cannot be placed at the point-of-care.

Limitations of alcohol-based handrub

In some situations washing hands with soap and water is preferable to use of alcohol-based handrub. 

Bacterial spores

Alcohol 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) viruses

Alcohol has a poor activity against some non-enveloped viruses. (for example: 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, in which case handwashing with soap and water is preferred.

Other organisms

Alcohol has a poor activity against tropical parasites, and protozoan oocysts. Handwashing soap and water is preferred.