Hands should also be washed with soap and water, according to the CDC, before eating and after using the restroom (Morantz and Torrey, 2003, 1135). Antimicrobial-impregnated wipes can be used as an alternative to washing them with non-antimicrobial soap and water, but they are not a substitute for using alcohol-based hand rubs or antimicrobial soap. If a healthcare worker is exposed to Bacillus anthracis, or suspected to have been exposed to it, the hands should be washed with soap and water. Washing the hands with soap and water is recommended in these cases because alcohol, iodophors, chlorhexidine, and other antiseptic agents have little effect against spores.
When washing the hands with soap and water, the hands should be made wet first, and then the soap applied, and the hands rubbed together for at least 15 seconds, making sure all the surfaces of the hands and fingers are covered with cleaning product (Morantz and
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