Skin and hand hygiene – The cornerstone of safe, hygienic treatment

It is well known that our hands are the main carriers of germs. In everyday practice, hand hygiene is an essential part of overall hygiene. The VAH requires hand sanitisers to have bactericidal and yeasticidal effects. Regarding viral efficacy, there are various options to choose from: limited virucidal, limited virucidal Plus or virucidal. When selecting a product, the user must know which viruses can be present in the practice or, in other words, ‘they must take into account the expected spectrum of pathogens’. In the field of podiatry/foot health/beauty, the presence of papillomaviruses (wart viruses) is highly likely, which is why virucidal products are recommended here. All our skin and hand disinfectants are listed by the Association for Applied Hygiene (VAH).

The benefits of RUCK skin and hand sanitiser:

> VAH-listed
> Dermatologically tested
> Highly well-tolerated skin
> Extremely short exposure times
> No added fragrances or colourings

What happens to the skin thanks to disinfecting and washing?

The skin is our natural protective barrier against many environmental influences and particularly acts as a reservoir of moisture. It has an acid mantle which, on the one hand, repels pathogens and, on the other, provides a habitat for beneficial bacteria to protect our skin. When healthy and under normal conditions, this protective layer looks after itself entirely. It produces the body’s own lipids for self-care. Thanks to regular and frequent sanitising and washing, the skin no longer meets its own lipid production needs. Good skincare prevents cracked and dry skin and enhances its barrier function, thereby inhibiting the entry of pathogens.

The effectiveness of hand and skin disinfection

The skin and hands are home to the natural skin flora, or ‘resident flora’. Depending on the activity , the hands can temporarily harbour different infectious agents, which are also described as ‘contaminants’ or ‘transient flora’. Hygienic hand disinfection reliably inactivates anything that does not form part of the normal flora. This prevents infections from being transmitted via the hands. Please use biocidal products with care and always read the label and product information before use.

Performing accurate hand hygiene

The standard hand-rubbing method practised for decades, involving a fixed sequence of movements, is no longer up to date. The individual, self-directed technique not only disinfects the hands more effectively, but also has a significantly higher compliance, according to the findings of a study* that compared both methods with one another. Prescribing a fixed sequence of movements does not have the effect of ensuring that areas are not missed. The success of hand rubbing depends primarily on the amount of hand sanitiser used and adequate contact time.

Ausreichend Handdesinfektionsmittel auf die trockenen Hände geben. Die Hände müssen „nass“ sein. Einreibung des Handdesinfektionsmittel auf der gesamten Hand unter besonderer Berücksichtigung von Hauptkontaktstellen und Erregerreservoiren (Fingerspitzen und Daumen, Nagelfalz). Die Hände müssen für die gesamte Einwirkzeit gemäß Herstellerangaben, mindestens jedoch für 30 Sekunden, feucht gehalten werden**.

* Kampf G, Reichel M, Feil Y, Eggerstedt S, Kaulfers PM (2008) Influence of rub-in technique on required application time and hand coverage in hygienic hand disinfection. BMC Infect Dis 8:149
** Scientific Advisory Board of the “Clean Hands Campaign” (2011): Position paper on the rub-in method dated 30 September 2011

1. Apply an adequate amount of hand cream to dry hands

2. Rub HDM into the skin, paying particular attention to the fingertips, the thumb, the nail folds and the back of the hand

The accurate exposure time is crucial

The contact time should be in accordance with the instructions on the packaging of the hand sanitiser. If the manufacturer gives information regarding efficacy against PolymaSV40, these times must be strictly observed, especially following wart treatment . Hands must be kept moist throughout the entire contact time .

Es dürfen bei der Händedesinfektion nur Mittel verwendet werden, die als Händedesinfektionsmittel bezeichnet sind. Es wird ausdrücklich empfohlen nur Händedesinfektionsmittel zu verwenden, die beim VAH (Verbund für angewandte Hygiene) gelistet sind. Da all unsere Haut- und Händedesinfektionsmittel VAH-gelistet sind, können diese bedenkenlos verwendet werden.