What should be done after washing hands to maintain hygiene?

Maintaining hygiene after washing hands is crucial in preventing the spread of infections. The recommended practice involves using a tissue or a paper towel to turn off the faucet to avoid recontaminating clean hands with bacteria that may be present on the faucet handle. This method ensures that you do not touch potentially infected surfaces after your hands have been washed, thereby maintaining the efficacy of hand hygiene.

Using a tissue is particularly effective because it acts as a barrier between your clean hands and the faucet, which is often a high-touch surface. By utilizing this approach, individuals contribute significantly to interrupting the transmission of pathogens and promoting overall public health, especially in environments where multiple people frequent the same facilities, such as hospitals, schools, or public restrooms.

In contrast, drying hands with a shared towel can lead to cross-contamination, while allowing hands to air dry may not be as effective in eliminating residual moisture that can harbor bacteria. Although rubbing hands with alcohol gel can be part of hand hygiene practices, it is typically done when soap and water are not available, rather than as a follow-up to washing. Therefore, using a tissue to turn off the faucet is the most appropriate method to ensure effective hygiene after hand washing.