Hand sanitisers are the most effective means of preventing or treating infectious diseases in doctors' surgeries, Spithospitals and care facilities. However, hands should also be properly disinfected at home or when travelling if there is a risk of infection. Hand sanitisers are also used, for example, in the industrial production of food, where hygiene regulations require proper and regular hand disinfection. Harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, bacterial spores, fungi and viruses are often transmitted via the hands. The hygienic disinfection of hands with a hand sanitiser therefore serves to prevent infection to protect patients and practice staff. When buying a hand sanitiser, always pay attention to the composition and the area of application. For allergy sufferers, for example, we recommend fragrance-free hand sanitisers. If a hand sanitiser is used frequently, particularly skin-friendly, moisturising variants are recommended. If you would like advice before buying a hand sanitiser, please do not hesitate to contact us!

Which hand sanitiser is effective against viruses?

Always use professional hand sanitiser to thoroughly disinfect your hands after contact with viruses, bacteria, yeasts and fungi. The classification of viruses in terms of their resistance to disinfectants is based on the presence of a viral envelope. Enveloped viruses have a lipid membrane and can be released from the host cell by budding. The envelope is relevant for the uptake of the viruses and their stability against environmental influences. It facilitates the modification of the virus surface and enables viruses to more easily evade the host's immune defences. Examples are corona and influenza viruses, but also the HI virus, Ebola virus and West Nile virus. Unenveloped viruses must always leave the infected cell by destroying the host cell and their central capsid is not surrounded by a membrane envelope. Compared to enveloped viruses, they are more resistant to chemical and physical processes and other environmental influences. Typical representatives are enteroviruses, noroviruses, rota viruses and adenoviruses. Depending on the type, there are also different efficacy spectra for disinfectants.

• The lipid membrane of enveloped viruses is sensitive and can easily be destroyed by alcohols. Disinfectants with a limited virucidal spectrum of action are therefore used.
• Hand disinfectants labelled limited virucidal PLUS inactivate all enveloped viruses as well as non-enveloped adenoviruses, rota viruses and noroviruses. They can be used all year round as they inactivate pathogens that occur more frequently seasonally. The disinfectant should be changed to a virucidal agent in the event of persistent outbreaks.
• All enveloped and non-enveloped viruses are inactivated with the disinfectant labelled as virucidal. Non-enveloped viruses are more resistant to environmental influences and require the use of particularly powerful disinfectants.

Two products from the Sterillium family - Sterillium and Sterillium classic pure - now also fulfil the requirements of the "limited virucidal PLUS" spectrum of activity.

Instructions for hygienic hand disinfection

An estimated 80% of infections are transmitted via contaminated hands. However, mistakes are often made when using hand sanitiser. How to disinfect your hands properly and use hand sanitiser correctly:

• Wash your hands with soap and water. Then dry your hands with a clean towel. Hand sanitiser should only be used on dry skin. Important: The effect of hand sanitiser is clearly superior to that of washing. Washing your hands too often leads to reduced skin moisture and damage to the skin barrier function, which in turn can favour skin irritation and the formation of hand eczema. Only wash your hands if they are coarsely and visibly soiled. Alcohol-based hand sanitisers often contain moisturising and skin-friendly substances to care for stressed skin at the same time.
• Pour enough hand sanitiser into the palm of your hand and wet all surfaces of your hands. Rub both palms together. Make sure that the wrists are also rubbed with sanitiser.
• For proper hand sanitisation, rub the palm of your right hand over the back of your left hand and repeat this step in reverse.
• Then rub your palms together with your fingers spread apart.
• Now rub the outside of the fingers on the opposite palm with interlaced fingers. Don't forget your thumbs. It is best to place them in the other, closed palm.
• To finish sanitising your hands, bring the fingertips of your right hand together and rub them in the palm of your left hand and repeat this step with the other hand.

Ideally, use fragrance-free and colour-free alcohol-based hand disinfectants and always follow the manufacturer's instructions for use. Adhere to the exposure time of the hand sanitiser and use it in the correct concentration.

Buy hand sanitiser in Switzerland | AcuMax Praxisbedarf

Hand sanitiser is available in various container sizes and formulations, depending on requirements and tolerability. For allergy sufferers we recommend Fragrance-free hand sanitiser. Once you know which one is right for you, you can buy hand sanitiser online. In the online shop at AcuMax Switzerland you will find a comprehensive selection of hand sanitisers at attractive prices. Do you have any questions or are you unsure which hand sanitiser is right for you? Contact us before you buy your hand sanitiser, we will be happy to advise you at any time. Of course, you can also order your hand sanitiser directly from us by telephone.