We are going through a flu season marked by greater virus circulation compared to previous years, with a clear increase in flu cases and other respiratory infections.

In professional environments, where there is frequent contact between people, use of common areas and constant sharing of surfaces and equipment, this scenario becomes particularly relevant. Adopting effective preventive measures is essential to protect employees, customers and partners, as well as to ensure the continuity and safety of operations.

Hands as the main transmission vector

According to widely accepted data, more than 80% of microorganisms are transmitted through the hands, which makes hand hygiene one of the critical points for preventing contamination.

Correct and regular hand washing is one of the most effective measures to reduce the risk of virus and bacteria transmission. However, for this gesture to be truly effective, it is not enough to wash hands quickly or incompletely. The whole process must be properly carried out, including adequate friction, the recommended time and proper drying.

Did you know?

• Correct hand washing can reduce diarrheal disease cases by more than 42% and respiratory infection cases by about 25%.
• Hand hygiene can be carried out with soap and water or, alternatively, with alcohol-based solutions, provided they are correctly applied.
• The use of alcohol-based solutions is safe and effective, requiring around 30 seconds for correct hand disinfection.
• Hand washing with soap and water takes, on average, 1 minute and should always be the first option when hands are visibly dirty.

1) Hand washing

Using an appropriate soap and correctly rubbing all areas of the hands is essential to eliminate microorganisms. A common mistake is rushed washing, which neglects critical areas such as the thumbs, nails and interdigital spaces.

When these areas are not properly cleaned, microorganisms remain on the skin, keeping the contagion risk high and compromising everyone’s safety.

The recommended time and correct technique are therefore as important as the product used.

2) Hand drying

Drying is a step often undervalued, but damp hands facilitate the transmission of bacteria. Drying hands on clothes should be avoided, since it recontaminates the skin and cancels out the effectiveness of washing.

Disposable paper towels are considered the most hygienic solution, since they enable:

• complete drying;
• additional removal of microorganisms through friction;
• reduced risk of dissemination in the environment.

The correct hand hygiene process always includes:

• Adequate washing with the right product
• Complete friction of all areas of the hands
• Effective rinsing
• Full drying with disposable paper towels

Correctly completing this process is essential to ensure truly clean hands and contribute to safer, healthier and more controlled professional environments.

Mistolin Pro professional solutions to reinforce hand hygiene

In the Mistolin Pro personal hygiene solutions catalog, you will find products developed for demanding professional contexts — from unscented soaps to bactericidal cleaning solutions — that help make this daily gesture more effective, fast and consistent, without compromising skin safety.

Discover how to reinforce prevention in your workplace with professional hand hygiene solutions.

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This article is based on recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and leading international authorities on infection prevention and control.