Expensive Dr. Roach: I’m a devoted reader of your column and recognize very a lot your consideration to element. I used to be stunned to learn in my native paper lately that you simply suggest hand sanitizer over hand-washing with cleaning soap and water. That is opposite to all different well being recommendation I’ve seen. Please clarify. I do perceive utilizing it when one can not use cleaning soap and water. — A.B.

Expensive Dr. Roach: I’m a devoted reader of your column and recognize very a lot your consideration to element. I used to be stunned to learn in my native paper lately that you simply suggest hand sanitizer over hand-washing with cleaning soap and water. That is opposite to all different well being recommendation I’ve seen. Please clarify. I do perceive utilizing it when one can not use cleaning soap and water. — A.B.

Reply: I don’t suppose I defined that very nicely, as a number of individuals have written to me with the identical query. Hand-washing with cleaning soap and water is most well-liked for a lot of or most conditions. Nonetheless, within the hospital, when well being care employees must carry out hand hygiene many occasions every day, alcohol-based hand sanitizer could also be most well-liked as a result of compliance is larger with it and since it’s a lot sooner.

There are some conditions the place hand sanitizer shouldn’t be used and palms ought to be washed with cleaning soap and water: when palms are visibly dirty; after they begin feeling “sticky”; and within the instances of some infections, particularly C. difficile and norovirus.

In all instances, palms ought to be washed after utilizing the toilet, and earlier than and after consuming.

Readers could electronic mail inquiries to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu or ship mail to 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.