|  | Public Health Safety | Public Health

Which Is More Effective: Soap or Hand Sanitizer?

Hand sanitizer prevents possible infections, but it does not replace regular hand washing for removing potential disease causing contaminants. Hand sanitizers kill potentially harmful bacteria on the skin while hand washing removes contaminants.

  1. Hand Washing Purpose

    • Food particles, feces, blood and dirt must be removed from the skin through the hand-washing process. These items can all carry harmful diseases.

    Hand Sanitizer Purpose

    • Hand sanitizer is used to kill bacteria. It must be applied to clean hands and contain at least 60 perecent alcohol to be effective.

    How Surgeons Use Hand Sanitzer

    • Surgeons must wash their hands before surgery to prevent contamination and use hand sanitizer to help prevent staph infections, according to the U.S. Department of Energy's website.

    Why Use Both?

    • Hospitals combine the use of both hand sanitizers and hand washing to help protect their patients.

    Recommended Hospital Employee Usage

    • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that hospital employees use hand sanitizers to save time when an employee's hands have not been contaminated. Use of hand sanitizers helps the staff save time when moving multiple patients.

Public Health - Related Articles