For routine surgical hand preparation alcohol-based handrubs are superior to scrubs because they are equally effective but cause less skin irritation, are cheaper, and use less water.

Disadvantages of chlorhexidine-containing disinfectants for surgical hand disinfection: they can provoke allergic reactions, foster antimicrobial resistance, and increase water consumption.

When pathogens suddenly appear in healthcare facilities, livestock farming or food processing plants, effective hygiene protocols for infection...