The six-step handwashing technique recommended by the WHO is more effective at removing harmful bacteria from healthcare workers’ hands than the three-step process that the CDC recommends, says a new study. The six-step method showed significantly lower median bacterial counts on hands than after the three-step method, though the researchers note that the six-step method does take an average of 25% longer to complete properly.
The research, published in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, examined the effectiveness of the handwashing methods by following 42 doctors and 78 nurses using alcohol-based hand rub in an urban, acute-care hospital while administering patient care. Even though the six-step method was found to be the most effective, the study also discovered that only 65% of healthcare workers completed the technique correctly even though they’d been provided instructions and knew they were being observed, indicating the need for more effective training on handwashing best practices.
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