What is the maximum time hand sanitizer should be rubbed on hands for effective disinfection?

For effective disinfection, hand sanitizer should be rubbed on the hands for at least 20 seconds. This duration is recommended to ensure that the sanitizer can adequately cover all surfaces of the hands, including the areas between the fingers, under the nails, and around the thumbs, which are commonly missed during hand hygiene practices. The active ingredients in hand sanitizer, such as alcohol, need time to effectively kill pathogens, and 20 seconds allows for sufficient contact time.

Using hand sanitizer for a shorter duration may not result in effective disinfection, as the product may not have enough time to work against a wide range of microorganisms. Prolonged application beyond 20 seconds, while not harmful, does not necessarily enhance the efficacy of the sanitizer, as the key determining factor is that the hands remain wet with the product for the correct duration to allow for thorough disinfection.