Comparative efficacy of hand hygiene agents in the reduction of bacteria and viruses.

These workers studied the efficacy of hand hygiene agents (n=14) following 10-second applications to reduce levels of Serratia marcescens and MS2 bacteriophag from the hands of volunteers using the ASTM-E-1174-94 test method. Antimicrobial handwashing agents were the most efficacious, whereas waterless agents showed variable efficacy. Alcohol-based handrubs compared with other products demonstrated better efficacy after one use rather than 10 uses. Effective hand hygiene for high levels of viral contamination with a non-enveloped virus was best achieved by physical removal with a non-antimicrobial soap or tap water alone. American Journal of Infection Control 2005;33:67-77.