Hand Hygiene project - Product selection

Centre for Disease Control Clinical Guidelines (external link)

World Health Organisation Guidelines (external link)

A review of current literature regarding hand hygiene products and standards was conducted in March 2006.

VQC Literature review on hand hygiene product selection - March 2006 (146kb, pdf)

VQC Standards review on hand hygiene product selection - March 2006 (97kb, pdf)

The VQC Hand Hygiene Steering Group undertook a review of current evidence regarding hand hygiene product selection in March 2006 and recommended that health services choose an alcohol-based hand-rub product with at least 70% effective alcohol concentration (remembering that the effective alcohol concentration in gels is 10% less than in a solution), preferably with 0.5% chlorhexidine.

The VQC does not endorse specific brand hand hygiene products, however we would like your health service to consider recommendations of the Steering Group when determining the purchase of hand hygiene solution