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Hand washing is the single most
important prevention step for reducing disease transmission.
How to Wash Hands
- Wet hands with
running water; place soap in palms; rub together to make a lather;
scrub hands vigorously for 20 seconds; rinse soap off hands.
- If possible, turn
off the faucet by using a disposable paper towel.
- Dry hands with a
disposable paper towel. Do not dry hands on clothing.
Hand-Washing Agents
- Liquid soap
dispensed by a hand or foot pump is recommended.
- Alcohol-based
hand sanitizers can be used if soap and water cannot be made
available and are effective against multiple common disease agents
(e.g., shiga toxin-producing E. coli, Salmonella, and
Campylobacter). However, they are ineffective against certain
organisms (e.g., bacterial spores, Cryptosporidium, and
certain viruses).
- The U.S. Food and
Drug Administration recommends using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
with a concentration of 60% or higher to be effective against common
disease agents.
- Hand sanitizers
are less effective if hands are visibly soiled. Therefore, visible
contamination and dirt should be removed to the extent possible
before using hand sanitizers.
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