Contact with fecal matter presents a direct risk for transmitting serious illnesses, making immediate and proper hand hygiene a necessity. Feces contain high concentrations of microorganisms, including various bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause gastrointestinal and respiratory infections. Pathogens spread when these contaminated particles are transferred from the hands to the mouth, eyes, nose, or to surfaces and other people. Effective handwashing is the single most important action to interrupt this cycle of contamination and prevent the spread of disease, requiring a specific, thorough technique using soap and water to physically remove the hazardous material.
Step-by-Step Handwashing Technique
The first step in proper hand cleaning is to wet your hands completely with clean, running water. Water temperature is less important than the act of rinsing, so warm or cold water is acceptable. Once wet, apply enough soap to create a rich lather that covers all surfaces of your hands.
Begin scrubbing your hands together vigorously, paying close attention to every area that may have contacted the contaminant. Rub the palms together, then interlace your fingers to scrub between them. Be sure to rub the back of each hand, as this area is often missed during quick washes.
The duration and thoroughness of the scrub are primary elements of the technique. You must continue the scrubbing action for a minimum of 20 seconds to effectively dislodge and suspend the contaminants. During this time, concentrate on cleaning the fingertips and the area beneath the fingernails, as these spaces easily trap fecal particles.
Rinse your hands thoroughly under clean, running water until all traces of soap are gone. The running water carries the soap and the encapsulated debris away from the skin surface. Finally, dry your hands completely using a clean, disposable paper towel or an air dryer, since damp hands can reacquire and transfer microorganisms more easily than dry hands.
Why Soap and Water Are Essential
Soap and water work together through a dual mechanism effective against fecal contamination. Soap molecules, known as surfactants, have a chemical structure where one end is attracted to water and the other is attracted to non-water-soluble substances like the fats, oils, and organic material found in feces.
When soap is applied, these molecules surround the fecal matter and oils, forming tiny structures called micelles. The contaminant is trapped within the core of the micelle, effectively lifting it from the skin. The scrubbing action provides the necessary friction to loosen this material from the microscopic ridges and valleys of the skin surface.
The running water then performs the mechanical function by rinsing away the entire complex—the soap, the micelle, and the encapsulated contamination. This physical removal is the primary difference from chemical disinfectants, as the goal is to eliminate the bulk of the organic soil and the pathogens it harbors, not merely to kill germs. Water alone cannot perform this function because it cannot effectively dissolve or lift fatty residue.
Hand Sanitizer Limitations Against Fecal Matter
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are a poor substitute for soap and water when dealing with fecal contamination. Their efficacy is significantly reduced when hands are visibly soiled, as the alcohol cannot penetrate the thick layer of organic material to reach the microbes underneath. This debris essentially shields the pathogens from the sanitizing agent.
Furthermore, many concerning pathogens found in feces are resistant to alcohol. Non-enveloped viruses, such as Norovirus, lack the fatty outer layer that alcohol easily dissolves in other virus types. The alcohol is unable to penetrate the Norovirus’s tough protein shell, or capsid.
Similarly, spore-forming bacteria like Clostridium difficile (C. diff) create a protective shell that is impenetrable to alcohol. Hand sanitizer cannot kill these spores, meaning only the physical washing and rinsing action of soap and water can remove them from the skin. For these reasons, sanitizer is not recommended as the primary method of hand hygiene after any contact with feces.