Covid-19: How you dry your hands is as important as washing them

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Research shows that proper hand drying is vital in helping to prevent the spread of disease, write John Gammon and Julian Hunt

But it’s not just as simple as drying your hands off in any old way, because how you dry your hands also matters. And this is particularly the case in hospitals and doctors surgeries.has examined the importance of hand drying and the implications of wet hands for patients and health care workers. The findings highlight that hot air hand dryers and cloth roller towels can be a problematic way of drying your hands — especially in a hospital.

Our review mainly looked at the impact of hand drying on bacteria, not viruses. But what we found is still relevant when looking at the possible transmission and spread of coronavirus in hospitals and GP surgeries — particularly given the advice from the WHO regarding frequent handwashing.Disposable paper towels offer the most hygienic method of hand drying.for hygiene reasons.

Cloth roller towels are also not recommended as they become a general use towel when the roll comes to an end — and can be a source of pathogen transfer to clean hands.Our review also found that the most appropriate methods for hand drying within a clinical environment — such as a hospital — differed to that recommended for public washrooms. This is because of the higher risk of contamination and cross-infection in hospitals.

So while it is important to dry your hands properly wherever you are, paper towels are always the preferred option if you are in hospital as a patient or a visitor — or a member of staff.

 

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