What type of sanitizer is often recommended for effective hand hygiene in healthcare settings?

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Alcohol-based sanitizers are widely recommended for effective hand hygiene in healthcare settings due to their ability to rapidly reduce the number of bacteria and viruses on the skin. These sanitizers typically contain at least 60% alcohol, which is effective in killing a broad range of pathogens, including those that can cause healthcare-associated infections. The use of alcohol-based sanitizers is especially advantageous in situations where soap and water are not readily available, as they can be used on the go and do not require rinsing, making hand hygiene more feasible in busy healthcare environments.

While antibacterial soap can also be effective, it requires time for proper application and rinsing, and studies have shown that alcohol-based sanitizers usually outperform them in terms of reducing microbial counts. Water-only washes are ineffective for sanitization purposes since they do not remove or kill pathogens. Foaming hand sanitizers can be effective as well, but they often still rely on alcohol as a primary active ingredient, making the alcohol-based sanitizer the more broadly recognized and recommended option for hand hygiene in healthcare.

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