The preparations used for hand hygiene

Nowadays six antimicrobial ingredients are available that are designed for hand washing, surgical hand scrubbing or hand antisepsis. Each is different and none is ideal for all uses. These antiseptic agents are alcohols, chlorhexidine gluconate, chloroxylenol, iodine and iodophors, compound of quaternary ammonium and tridosan. This review describes the antimicrobial spectrum, the speed of action and the adverse effects of hand hygiene antiseptic agents.

Keywords: Antiseptic agents, handwashing, hand hygiene