How long should hand hygiene last?

How long should hand hygiene last?

• A. 10 seconds
• B. 20 seconds
• C. 30 seconds
• D. 40 seconds

Answer: (B)

Thorough hand hygiene works because you need enough time for friction to lift and remove microbes from every part of the hands. A minimum of about twenty seconds of washing with soap and water gives enough contact with all surfaces—palms, backs of the hands, between fingers, and under the nails—to scrub away germs and rinse them away. Shorter times risk missing areas, while longer durations like thirty or forty seconds aren’t necessary for routine use and are mainly used in special medical scrubs. When using an alcohol-based sanitizer, rub until the product dries, which typically takes about twenty seconds as well.

Thorough hand hygiene works because you need enough time for friction to lift and remove microbes from every part of the hands. A minimum of about twenty seconds of washing with soap and water gives enough contact with all surfaces—palms, backs of the hands, between fingers, and under the nails—to scrub away germs and rinse them away. Shorter times risk missing areas, while longer durations like thirty or forty seconds aren’t necessary for routine use and are mainly used in special medical scrubs. When using an alcohol-based sanitizer, rub until the product dries, which typically takes about twenty seconds as well.