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Updated: Apr 30, 2026

A Method to Test the Efficacy of Handwashing for the Removal of Emerging Infectious Pathogens
Published on: June 7, 2017
Assessing the thoroughness of hand hygiene: "seeing is believing"
Sung-Ching Pan1, Evelyn Chen2, Kuei-Lien Tien3
1Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Abstract:
The thoroughness of hand hygiene (HH) was evaluated using a simulation method in which health care workers (HCWs) rubbed their hands with a fluorescent substance, washed with water, and placed their hands under an ultraviolet detector to identify areas missed. Most residue points were located in the tips of the nails (38.6%), followed by fingertips (17.4%). This stress-free "seeing is believing" program can encourage HCWs' active participation in sustaining the HH culture of health care institutions.
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