Ideas That Work: Paper Towels: More Than Just Quicker Picker Uppers

A study of 50 medical volunteers last year concluded that paper towels are more effective at reducing hand bacteria and more cost-efficient than sterile hand-drying products, making them ideal for reducing operating costs in medical institutions.

The study was published in the July edition of the American Journal of Infection Control. The volunteers used clean paper towels to dry their hands on the first day, sterile cloth towels on the second day and sterile paper towels on the third and final day. The study notes that while the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses recommends using paper towels to dry hands after washing, many facilities use cloth towels.

The researchers concluded that clean paper towels were “effective, feasible and generalizable as hand-dry products in surgical hand antisepsis.”

“This study demonstrates that clean paper towels used for surgical hand antisepsis not only meet hygienic standards but also reduce hand bacteria more effectively than sterile cloth towels,” conclude the researchers. “They are user-friendly and dry hands quickly. Additionally, they are cost-effective, which reduces operating room expenses while ensuring effective disinfection. This approach improves surgical quality and provides social and economic advantages to hospitals, thus endorsing clean paper towels as a recommended practice.” OSM