Handwashing (a nebulous term that can include cleaning, antisepsis, or both) has been
described as “…the single most important measure to reduce the risks of transmitting
organisms from one person to another or from one site to another on the same patient”
(ref. 2, updated guidelines). The recommendations for handwashing issued by the
Centers for Disease Control are shown in Table 3.3. Note that an antiseptic solution
rather than plain soap and water is recommended for most instances of handwashing,
and that a waterless alcohol gel is recommended if the hands are not visibly soiled
(remember that alcohol is much less effective in the presence of organic matter). The
preference for alcohol gel is based