Effect of correctly using alcohol-based hand rub in a clinical setting.

We evaluated hand antisepsis in clinical practice at Aarhus University Hospital in Skejby, Denmark. The rate of compliance with the correct use of alcohol-based hand rub exceeded 55% of all routine clinical procedures observed. With the correct use of alcohol-based hand rub by hospital staff, bacterial counts were reduced by 90% before and 82% after a clinical procedure; with incorrect use, the bacterial counts were reduced by 60% before and 54% after a clinical procedure.