[Risk factors for dryness or irritation of staff hands in nine healthcare institutions].

Objective: We performed a prospective multicenter study to assess dryness and irritation of hands of staff in care facilities, and to show that disinfection with alcohol-based hand rub is better tolerated than classic hand washing with mild soap.

Method: Dryness and irritation were self-evaluated by volunteers and hetero-evaluated by a team of investigators. The study took into account most of the individual and environmental risk factors of dryness and irritation (season, age, gender, use of protective agent, constitutional, personal and external factors, institution, function, number of consecutive working days).

A prospective multicenter study evaluating skin tolerance to standard hand hygiene techniques.

We performed a prospective multicenter study to assess the dryness and irritation of the hands in health care facilities, and to evaluate whether that disinfection with an alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) is better tolerated than classic handwashing with mild soap and water. Our study was conducted in 9 sites in the summer and winter. A team of investigators evaluated dryness and irritation.