title: Comparative study on efficacy of different alcohol hand rubs and routine hand wash in a health-care setting, alexandria, egypt.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Antiseptic agents or plain soap and water are mainly used for hand hygiene in Egypt. The impact of hand hygiene depends not only on the regularity and thoroughness of the procedures used but also on the type of hand-washing agent selected.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy of alcohol-based hand rubs versus traditional hand washing with soap and water in reducing hand contamination during routine patient care.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 20 volunteered nurses in 3 intensive care units and the renal dialysis unit, in the Alexandria University Students' Hospital. A total of 200 samples were collected by direct finger-print of the dominant hand taken from all nurses before and after applying hand hygiene procedures. Three hand-rubs available in the Egyptian market (Brands A, B; alcohol-based liquid, and C; alcohol-based gel) were used and compared to a locally prepared hand-rubbing solution (D) and to hand washing with non-antiseptic soap and water (SW).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hand washing with non-antiseptic soap and water and all of the four used alcohol-based hand-rubs showed significant reduction of bacterial counts on the examined hands. The median percentage reductions were 99%, 94%, 77%, and 87% with brands A, B, C and D respectively and only 30% reduction with soap and water (x2: 23.023, p <0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alcohol-based hand rub is far more efficient than traditional hand washing, and more convenient and time saving. Locally prepared hand rub is comparable to readymade ones. It is recommended as a hand hygiene practice in critical areas, particularly when sink and running water are inaccessible.
authors: Microbiology Department, Alexandria University Students' Hospital, Alexandria University, Egypt. amiraamine@yahoo.com.
authors: Amani F
authors: AF
authors: Abaza
authors: Amira E
authors: AE
authors: Amine
authors: Walaa A
authors: WA
authors: Hazzah