Is the foam soap better than the washing hands in sink method?

[Bala Shark]

I was wondering if the foam soap is better or not...You know the ones that hang

outside of the room, the bactercidal foam soap which requires no water..

[vamedic4, EMT-P]

I was wondering if the foam soap is better or not...You know the ones that hang

outside of the room, the bactercidal foam soap which requires no water..

Hey Shark...

Recent report I heard (ABC News local WFAA) was that foam soap is fine, as long as it has active ingredient Ethyl alcohol at a concentration of at least 61%.

For me it's just too darn gooey, and it makes my hands feel sticky. I prefer the regular soap with CHG. But that's just me.

Oh, and of course, if your hands are SOILED with blood or other body fluids, common sense says wash thoroughly with soap and water and leave the foam soap for another time.

Have a great day.

vamedic4

[HappyNurse2005, RN]

I love the foam soap. a squirt going into the room, a squirt going out. its faster, easier, and just as good-how could you not like it?

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

I was wondering if the foam soap is better or not...You know the ones that hang

outside of the room, the bactercidal foam soap which requires no water..

In school we were directed to use that whenever we had to quickly leave or enter a room, but otherwise, use soap/water. Friction better. Makes sense to me, though, that if there's enough alcohol in it, it'd kill whatever's on your hands provided they're not actually messy with anything.

Personally, I hate the stuff: makes my hands sticky and itchy....so I find a place to wash up afterward as fast as I can!!

[WSU_Ally_RN, BSN, RN]

Where we do our clinicals, they say we can use the foam as long as our hands are not visibaly soiled, and after 5 times using it, we are to wash with regular soap and water.

[ngille]

Where we do our clinicals, they say we can use the foam as long as our hands are not visibaly soiled, and after 5 times using it, we are to wash with regular soap and water.

That is the same recommendation that we have at the facility where I work. The foam is for quick cleanings, but nothing can really replace soap and water.

[GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

I prefer soap and water. I just don't feel clean using the other stuff. But I do use it when I am in a huge hurry.

[sharann, BSN, RN]

The fact of the matter is that people USE the foam or gel dispensers much more often than they wash their hands. This is why they are preferred. They are used and this is preferred over not washing at all.

Again, we all know we are supposed to wash but at times it is impossible and these rubs may stop a spread of infection if used diligently.

[suzanne4, RN]

The instant hand cleaners are effective again most organisms, except, C. Diff. Please make sure that you use soap and water after caring for a patient with that diagnosis.

The hand gels have been shown to be effective against over 99.9% of germs, but only if they are used effectively. And they do get used much more frequently than soap and water....much more convenient than running to a sink every few minutes.

[lovemyjob]

we were told that unless your hands were visibly soiled, the foam was actually better at removing bugs from your hands.

[HappyNurse2005, RN]

In school we were directed to use that whenever we had to quickly leave or enter a room, but otherwise, use soap/water. Friction better.

i dont just squirt the foam on my hands and go, there is friction involved to rub it in.

a funny story though, about the foam. had a patient once ask me what that stuff was and why i did it every time i went in and out of the room.

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

excellent resource from the cdc (2002):

guideline for hand hygiene in health-care settings

recommendations

1. indications for handwashing and hand antisepsis

when hands are visibly dirty or contaminated with proteinaceous material or are visibly soiled with blood or other body fluids, wash hands with either a non-antimicrobial soap and water or an antimicrobial soap and water (ia) (66).

if hands are not visibly soiled, use an alcohol-based hand rub for routinely decontaminating hands in all other clinical situations described in items 1c--j (ia) (74,93,166,169,283,294,312,398). alternatively, wash hands with an antimicrobial soap and water in all clinical situations described in items 1c--j (ib) (69-71,74).

decontaminate hands before having direct contact with patients (ib) (68,400).

decontaminate hands before donning sterile gloves when inserting a central intravascular catheter (ib) (401,402).

decontaminate hands before inserting indwelling urinary catheters, peripheral vascular catheters, or other invasive devices that do not require a surgical procedure (ib) (25,403).

decontaminate hands after contact with a patient's intact skin (e.g., when taking a pulse or blood pressure, and lifting a patient) (ib) (25,45,48,68).

decontaminate hands after contact with body fluids or excretions, mucous membranes, nonintact skin, and wound dressings if hands are not visibly soiled (ia) (400).

decontaminate hands if moving from a contaminated-body site to a clean-body site during patient care (ii) (25,53).

decontaminate hands after contact with inanimate objects (including medical equipment) in the immediate vicinity of the patient (ii) (46,53,54).

decontaminate hands after removing gloves (ib) (50,58,321).

before eating and after using a restroom, wash hands with a non-antimicrobial soap and water or with an antimicrobial soap and water (ib) (404-409).

antimicrobial-impregnated wipes (i.e., towelettes) may be considered as an alternative to washing hands with non-antimicrobial soap and water. because they are not as effective as alcohol-based hand rubs or washing hands with an antimicrobial soap and water for reducing bacterial counts on the hands of hcws, they are not a substitute for using an alcohol-based hand rub or antimicrobial soap (ib) (160,161).

wash hands with non-antimicrobial soap and water or with antimicrobial soap and water if exposure to bacillus anthracis is suspected or proven. the physical action of washing and rinsing hands under such circumstances is recommended because alcohols, chlorhexidine, iodophors, and other antiseptic agents have poor activity against spores (ii) (120,172, 224,225).

no recommendation can be made regarding the routine use of nonalcohol-based hand rubs for hand hygiene in health-care settings. unresolved issue.

2. hand-hygiene technique

when decontaminating hands with an alcohol-based hand rub, apply product to palm of one hand and rub hands together, covering all surfaces of hands and fingers, until hands are dry (ib) (288,410). follow the manufacturer's recommendations regarding the volume of product to use.

when washing hands with soap and water, wet hands first with water, apply an amount of product recommended by the manufacturer to hands, and rub hands together vigorously for at least 15 seconds, covering all surfaces of the hands and fingers. rinse hands with water and dry thoroughly with a disposable towel. use towel to turn off the faucet (ib) (90-92,94,411). avoid using hot water, because repeated exposure to hot water may increase the risk of dermatitis (ib) (254,255).

liquid, bar, leaflet or powdered forms of plain soap are acceptable when washing hands with a non-antimicrobial soap and water. when bar soap is used, soap racks that facilitate drainage and small bars of soap should be used (ii) (412-415).

multiple-use cloth towels of the hanging or roll type are not recommended for use in health-care settings (ii) (137,300).

3. surgical hand antisepsis

remove rings, watches, and bracelets before beginning the surgical hand scrub (ii) (375,378,416).

remove debris from underneath fingernails using a nail cleaner under running water (ii) (14,417).

surgical hand antisepsis using either an antimicrobial soap or an alcohol-based hand rub with persistent activity is recommended before donning sterile gloves when performing surgical procedures (ib) (115,159,232,234,237,418).

when performing surgical hand antisepsis using an antimicrobial soap, scrub hands and forearms for the length of time recommended by the manufacturer, usually 2--6 minutes. long scrub times (e.g., 10 minutes) are not necessary (ib) (117,156,205, 207,238-241).

when using an alcohol-based surgical hand-scrub product with persistent activity, follow the manufacturer's instructions. before applying the alcohol solution, prewash hands and forearms with a non-antimicrobial soap and dry hands and forearms completely. after application of the alcohol-based product as recommended, allow hands and forearms to dry thoroughly before donning sterile gloves (ib) (159,237).

4. selection of hand-hygiene agents

provide personnel with efficacious hand-hygiene products that have low irritancy potential, particularly when these products are used multiple times per shift (ib) (90,92,98,166,249). this recommendation applies to products used for hand antisepsis before and after patient care in clinical areas and to products used for surgical hand antisepsis by surgical personnel.

to maximize acceptance of hand-hygiene products by hcws, solicit input from these employees regarding the feel, fragrance, and skin tolerance of any products under consideration. the cost of hand-hygiene products should not be the primary factor influencing product selection (ib) (92,93,166, 274,276-278).

when selecting non-antimicrobial soaps, antimicrobial soaps, or alcohol-based hand rubs, solicit information from manufacturers regarding any known interactions between products used to clean hands, skin care products, and the types of gloves used in the institution (ii) (174,372).

before making purchasing decisions, evaluate the dispenser systems of various product manufacturers or distributors to ensure that dispensers function adequately and deliver an appropriate volume of product (ii) (286).

do not add soap to a partially empty soap dispenser. this practice of "topping off" dispensers can lead to bacterial contamination of soap (ia) (187,419).

5. skin care

provide hcws with hand lotions or creams to minimize the occurrence of irritant contact dermatitis associated with hand antisepsis or handwashing (ia) (272,273).

solicit information from manufacturers regarding any effects that hand lotions, creams, or alcohol-based hand antiseptics may have on the persistent effects of antimicrobial soaps being used in the institution (ib) (174,420,421).

6. other aspects of hand hygiene

do not wear artificial fingernails or extenders when having direct contact with patients at high risk (e.g., those in intensive-care units or operating rooms) (ia) (350--353).

keep natural nails tips less than 1/4-inch long (ii) (350).

wear gloves when contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials, mucous membranes, and nonintact skin could occur (ic) (356).

remove gloves after caring for a patient. do not wear the same pair of gloves for the care of more than one patient, and do not wash gloves between uses with different patients (ib) (50,58,321,373).

change gloves during patient care if moving from a contaminated body site to a clean body site (ii) (50,51,58).

no recommendation can be made regarding wearing rings in health-care settings. unresolved issue.

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5116a1.htm