Increase in hand-alcohol consumption among medical staff in a general hospital as a result of introducing a training program and a visualization test.

To assess the impact of training programs, including a visualization test for hand disinfection, we monitored the hand-alcohol consumption of medical staff. The consumption increased steadily from 5.7 L of hand alcohol per capita per year in 1990 to 9.1 L in 1998. There was no significant increase in skin problems.