Which level of hand hygiene significantly reduces the number of normally resident microorganisms on the hands?

The level of hand hygiene that significantly reduces the number of normally resident microorganisms on the hands is surgical hand hygiene. This practice is critical in preventing infections, particularly in surgical settings where the risk of introducing pathogens into a sterile environment is high.

Surgical hand hygiene involves a more thorough technique than other levels, emphasizing the removal of both transient and resident flora. It typically includes the use of antiseptic agents followed by a specific duration of scrubbing to ensure that all surfaces of the hands and forearms are covered. This level is aimed at creating a sterile field, essential for surgical procedures, therefore reducing the likelihood of surgical site infections.

While clinical, hygienic, and social hand hygiene techniques are important for general infection control, they do not achieve the same degree of microbial reduction as surgical hand hygiene. Clinical hygiene generally pertains to routine practices in healthcare settings, hygienic hygiene is focused on maintaining general cleanliness, and social hygiene refers to handwashing norms applicable in everyday situations. These methods may clean the hands but do not necessarily eradicate the resident microorganisms as effectively as surgical hand hygiene does.