A Comparison of Effect of Three Hand Drying Methods on Washed Hands

Volume : VII, Issue : VII, July - 2018

Dr. Pritam Jagansing Pardeshi

In this study the ability of warm air driers to dry hands hygienically was evaluated by measuring the number of

micro-organisms on hands after washing and drying with warm air hand driers and comp� the results with the

same protocol but drying with tissue paper and towels. The aim of the present study was to evaluate hygienic efficacy of the three different

hand-drying methods (paper towels, cloth towels, warm air dryers). Fingerprint samples were collected by contact plate method before

hand washing and after washing and drying. Percentage reduction in colony count by each method is analyzed. Maximum reduction in

average colony was count observe after using tissue paper (97.51%) as a drying method which is followed by air dryer (91.57%). There was

less reduction in colony count seen with use of towel (27.14%) as a drying method, possibly due to reuse of towels. It is concluded that tissue

paper and air dryer are hygienic methods of drying whereas it is advisable to avoid reusable towel for hand drying.