Letter

Alcohol handrubs v soap

BMJ 2003; 326 doi: 10.1136/bmj.326.7379.50/a (Published 4 January 2003)
Cite this as: BMJ 2003;326:50.2

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Finnish experience shows that alcohol rubs are good for hands

  1. Juhani Ojajarvi, senior medical officer (juhani.ojajarvi@nam.fi)
  1. National Agency for Medicines, Medical Devices Centre, PO Box 55, F-00301 Helsinki, Finland
  2. Barts and the Royal London Hospitals and School of Medicine, London E1 2AD
  3. Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust, London E11 1NR

    EDITOR—Girou et al compared the use of alcohol based handrubs with standard handwashing.1 Such handrubs have been used in Finland since the 1980s, and handrubbing is the preferred choice for hand hygiene in health care.

    Healthcare workers have accepted the method, and complaints of dry skin are fewer than with using other hand hygiene products. 2 3 Alcoholic preparations must of course contain skin emollients such as 1-2% glycerol to prevent drying of the skin.

    References

    1. 1.↵
      1. Girou E,
      2. Loyeau S,
      3. Legrand P,
      4. Oppein F,
      5. Brun-Boisson C
      . Efficacy of handrubbing with alcohol based solution versus standard handwashing with antiseptic soap: randomised clinical trial. BMJ 2002; 325: 362
      OpenUrlFREE Full Text
    2. 2.↵
      1. Ojajärvi J,
      2. Mäkelä P,
      3. Rantasalo I
      . Failure of hand disinfection with frequent hand washing: a need for profield studies. J Hyg 1977; 79: 107–119
      OpenUrl
    3. 3.↵
      1. Ojajärvi J
      . Handwashing in Finland. J Hosp Infect 1991; 18 (suppl B): 35–40
      OpenUrlMedline

    Alcohol handrub removes methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus

    1. Arti Thakerar, fourth year medical student (arti_thakerar@doctorsworld.com),
    2. Collin Goodbourn, consultant microbiologist
    1. National Agency for Medicines, Medical Devices Centre, PO Box 55, F-00301 Helsinki, Finland
    2. Barts and the Royal London Hospitals and School of Medicine, London E1 2AD
    3. Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust, London E11 1NR

      EDITOR—Girou et al showed that handrubbing with an alcohol …

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