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Abstract
Hot air hand driers are increasingly used in both public areas and hospitals, but
there is little literature on their bacteriology. Four units were examined by comparing
the bacterial aerosols released from hands during use by sets of twelve subjects with
those released by paper towels. Tests on two units also included hand imprints on
agar plates for detection of residual bacteria. No significant difference between
aerosols liberated by towels and driers were observed for two units, while the other
two generated significantly fewer aerosols than towels. Impression plates revealed
similar numbers of bacteria on the hands after drying by either method. Hot air hand
driers appear safe from a bacteriological viewpoint.
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References
- Shedding of bacteria and skin squames after handwashing.Journal of Hygiene. 1978; 81: 99-105
- Mechanical air drying of hands following preoperative scrubbing.Public Health Reports. 1953; 68: 317-319
- Individual comparisons by ranking methods.Biometrics Bulletin. 1945; 1: 80-83
Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
June 30,
1986
Footnotes
☆This work was funded by a grant from the Building Works Directorate, Department of Health and Social Security.
Identification
Copyright
© 1987 Published by Elsevier Inc.
