Antibacterial Effectiveness of Routine Hand Washing

A broth rinse method was used to determine the indigenous bacteria of the hands of nursery personnel and to demonstrate its stability under the test conditions. The efficacy of five wash agents in removing infant-acquired organisms from the hands was then explored. All agents were equally effective including water when followed by drying on a paper towel. The data show that the routine-type quick hand wash usually employed by busy aides and nurses is effective in removing patient-acquired organisms and provide additional emphasis on the importance of the hand wash procedure in prevention of spread of bacteria from patient to patient.