Handwashing
Handwashing - Related Videos
09:02
A Method to Test the Efficacy of Handwashing for the Removal of Emerging Infectious Pathogens
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Cited by 9 •
2017
Handwashing is widely recommended to prevent infectious disease transmission. However, there is little evidence on which handwashing methods are most efficacious at removing infectious disease pathogens. We developed a method to assess the efficacy of handwashing methods at removing microorganisms.
01:18
Handwashing I: Introduction and Types of Equipment
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2023
Handwashing is hand hygiene with plain or antimicrobial soap and water to physically remove dirt, organic material, and microorganisms. However, it may not kill all microorganisms. The handwashing procedure requires a hand wash basin, liquid soap, paper towels, a domestic waste bin, and disposable nail cleaner as optional equipment. Hand wash basins in clinical areas should have faucets that can be turned on and off without using the hands; that is, they should be non-touch or lever-operated.
01:19
Handwashing II: Pre-procedure and Initial Procedure Steps
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2023
The pre-procedure steps of handwashing include removing jewelry and rolling up sleeves. However, many organizations allow staff to wear wedding rings. The hand washing procedure itself includes the following steps. First, cover cuts, if any, on hands with a waterproof dressing. Cuts and abrasions can become contaminated with bacteria hindering the ability to clean the area thoroughly. In addition, repeated hand washing can worsen an injury. The nails must be short and clean, without nail paint...
01:15
Handwashing III: During the Procedure and Post-Procedure Steps
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2023
To wash hands properly, follow these steps: Wet the hands. Use enough soap to cover all surfaces of the hands. Rub both hands palm to palm. Rub the back of the hand: Use the right palm over the left dorsum or back of the left hand with interlaced fingers, then switch hands. Rub palm to palm with fingers interlaced. With fingers interlocked, rub the backs of the fingers of the opposite hands. Rub the left thumb clasped in the right palm in a circular motion and repeat with the other...
01:32
Pig Surgical Preparation and Postoperative Care
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2026
All animal procedures described here must be conducted in accordance with institutional animal ethics guidelines and approved by IACUC. All procedures must follow the principles of the 3Rs—Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement—and must be performed by trained personnel. Surgical Preparation and Physiological Monitoring This video provides an introductory overview of surgical preparation, intraoperative monitoring, and postoperative care in swine. It is intended to familiarize learners with key...
FAQs
Soap acts as a surfactant, helping loosen oils and microorganisms from the skin rather than relying on water alone. Rubbing supplies the mechanical force needed to detach these materials from the hands, while continued movement distributes cleaning across multiple surfaces. This combination makes the process more effective than simply rinsing the hands.
Contamination can remain on hand surfaces that receive less attention during routine washing. The palms, backs of the hands, fingers, thumbs, and areas beneath the nails therefore require deliberate rubbing. Covering these locations improves the likelihood that loosened dirt and microorganisms will be reached before rinsing carries them away.
Rubbing loosens oils, dirt, and microorganisms, but those materials must then be removed from the skin. Rinsing with water carries the loosened contaminants away rather than leaving them on the hands. In clinical practice, completing this stage supports the overall cleaning process and reduces the opportunity for contaminants to remain available for transfer.
Handwashing works best when cleaning is thorough, performed at the appropriate clinical moments, and followed by effective drying. Technique determines whether all relevant hand surfaces receive friction, while timing addresses opportunities for contamination transfer. Drying is also part of safer practice because the complete process helps protect patients and reduce spread within healthcare environments.
A clinical handwashing sequence uses water and, when available, soap; deliberate rubbing covers the palms, backs of the hands, fingers, thumbs, and areas beneath the nails; rinsing removes the loosened material; and drying completes the process. The important outcome is not a rushed rinse, but consistent coverage followed by removal of contaminants.
Handwashing is especially relevant whenever contamination could move between healthcare workers, patients, instruments, or surfaces. Its importance increases when vulnerable patients may be exposed to transferred microorganisms. By making cleaning a consistent infection-control practice, clinical teams support safer care environments and reduce opportunities for pathogens to pass from one contact point to another.