Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Hand hygiene

Hand hygiene

Asepsis is the practice of preventing or breaking the chain of infection. The nurse employs aseptic techniques to prevent the spread of microorganisms and reduce the risk of diseases. Hand hygiene is the cornerstone of aseptic techniques and is classified into medical and surgical asepsis. Medical asepsis includes hand hygiene and the use of gloves. Surgical asepsis, or the sterile technique, refers to practices that render and keep objects and areas free of microorganisms.
Hand washing...

Handwashing III: During the Procedure and Post-Procedure Steps

Handwashing III: During the Procedure and Post-Procedure Steps

To wash hands properly, follow these steps:

Handwashing II: Pre-procedure and Initial Procedure Steps

Handwashing II: Pre-procedure and Initial Procedure Steps

The pre-procedure steps of handwashing include removing jewelry and rolling up sleeves. However, many organizations allow staff to wear wedding rings.
The hand washing procedure itself includes the following steps. First, cover cuts, if any, on hands with a waterproof dressing. Cuts and abrasions can become contaminated with bacteria hindering the ability to clean the area thoroughly. In addition, repeated hand washing can worsen an injury. The nails must be short and clean, without nail paint...

The Skin Microbiota

The Skin Microbiota

The human skin serves as a complex ecosystem inhabited by a diverse community of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This microbiome plays a critical role in maintaining skin health and defending against pathogenic invaders. The composition of microbial communities varies significantly across different regions of the body, influenced primarily by the local levels of moisture and sebum.Regional Variation in Skin MicrobiotaCutibacterium acnes predominantly colonizes sebaceous...

Handwashing I: Introduction and Types of Equipment

Handwashing I: Introduction and Types of Equipment

Handwashing is hand hygiene with plain or antimicrobial soap and water to physically remove dirt, organic material, and microorganisms. However, it may not kill all microorganisms. The handwashing procedure requires a hand wash basin, liquid soap, paper towels, a domestic waste bin, and disposable nail cleaner as optional equipment.
Hand wash basins in clinical areas should have faucets that can be turned on and off without using the hands; that is, they should be non-touch or lever-operated.

Surface Membrane Barriers

Surface Membrane Barriers

The skin and mucous membranes serve as the primary line of defense against pathogens by providing both physical and chemical protection. These barriers are essential in preventing the entry and establishment of microbes, thereby maintaining the integrity of the host.
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Multicentre surveillance of epidemiologically important pathogens causing nosocomial bloodstream infections and pneumonia trials in Brazilian adult intensive care units.

Journal of medical microbiology·2023

Same author

Early intervention in psoriasis: Where do we go from here?

Frontiers in medicine·2022

Same author

Gram-negative bacilli bacteremia: a 7 year retrospective study in a referral Brazilian tertiary-care teaching hospital.

Journal of medical microbiology·2020

Same author

Using point prevalence survey to define burden of antimicrobial use among 35 adult intensive care units in Brazil.

Infectious diseases (London, England)·2019

Same author

Assessment of psoriasis severity in Brazilian patients with chronic plaque psoriasis attending outpatient clinics: a multicenter, population-based cross-sectional study (APPISOT).

The Journal of dermatological treatment·2018

Same author

Crystal structure of 4-nitro-phenyl 6-<i>O</i>-ethyl-β-d-galacto-pyran-oside monohydrate.

Acta crystallographica. Section E, Crystallographic communications·2017

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 13, 2026

A Method to Test the Efficacy of Handwashing for the Removal of Emerging Infectious Pathogens

A Method to Test the Efficacy of Handwashing for the Removal of Emerging Infectious Pathogens

Published on: June 7, 2017

Hand washing: changes in the skin flora.

Lizandra Ferreira de Almeida e Borges¹, Bruno Leonardo Silva, Paulo Pinto Gontijo Filho

¹Imunologia e Parasitologia Aplicadas, Univerisdade Federal de Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. lfaborges@yahoo.com.br

American Journal of Infection Control

|July 31, 2007

Summary

Frequent hand washing can damage skin and increase microorganisms. Washing damaged hands with soap and water is ineffective for reducing contamination, unlike washing healthy hands.

More Related Videos

Isolation and Identification of Bacterial Strains from Skin of Terrestrial Amphibians

Isolation and Identification of Bacterial Strains from Skin of Terrestrial Amphibians

Published on: June 17, 2025

Organotypic Tissue Model Systems for Investigating Host-Pathogen Interactions In Vitro

Organotypic Tissue Model Systems for Investigating Host-Pathogen Interactions In Vitro

Published on: March 28, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 13, 2026

A Method to Test the Efficacy of Handwashing for the Removal of Emerging Infectious Pathogens

A Method to Test the Efficacy of Handwashing for the Removal of Emerging Infectious Pathogens

Published on: June 7, 2017

Isolation and Identification of Bacterial Strains from Skin of Terrestrial Amphibians

Isolation and Identification of Bacterial Strains from Skin of Terrestrial Amphibians

Published on: June 17, 2025

Organotypic Tissue Model Systems for Investigating Host-Pathogen Interactions In Vitro

Organotypic Tissue Model Systems for Investigating Host-Pathogen Interactions In Vitro

Published on: March 28, 2025

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Dermatology
Infection Control

Background:

Frequent hand washing is crucial for infection control but can lead to skin damage.
Skin damage may alter the skin's natural microbiome, potentially affecting its barrier function and susceptibility to colonization by microorganisms.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the impact of hand washing with soap and water on the total microbial flora of both healthy and damaged hands.
To assess the effectiveness of standard hand hygiene practices in reducing microbial contamination on different skin conditions.

Main Methods:

Collected microbial samples from healthy and damaged hands of 30 healthcare professionals before and after washing with water and non-medicated soap.
Evaluated 15 additional volunteers washing hands 20 times with soap and water, with separate analysis for those reporting irritation.

Main Results:

No statistically significant differences in the qualitative analysis of epidemiologically important microorganisms were found between healthy and damaged hands.
Hand washing with soap and water was effective in reducing microbial load on healthy hands but not on damaged hands.
Washing damaged hands with soap and water did not effectively reduce their contamination levels.

Conclusions:

Standard hand washing with soap and water is effective for healthy hands but insufficient for reducing contamination on damaged hands.
Skin integrity plays a significant role in the efficacy of hand hygiene practices for microbial reduction.