Removal of virus from hands: a study on the role of washing and drying.

Background: Proper hand hygiene is extremely important to control the transmission of pathogens. Although many studies have been undertaken on the effect of washing and drying on bacterial contamination of hands, studies on viral contamination are scarce.

Aim: To assess the viral load of artificially contaminated hands after washing and after drying.

Methods: Thirty volunteers completed a questionnaire on hand hygiene, and participated in microbial assays testing five different drying approaches, using whole-hand methodology, to quantify viruses on hands. Bacterial assays were also performed for comparison purposes.

Results: For both viruses and bacteria, the washing step promoted a significant reduction in the microbial load, while the drying step only promoted a slight reduction, regardless of the drying method used. Hand dryers and paper towels did not induce recontamination of washed hands.

Conclusions: Handwashing promoted a reduction in the microbial load of hands, but none of the drying methods tested led to a significant reduction in the microbial load of hands.