The present study aimed to investigate and compare hand drying methods, namely, using disposable paper towels and using a multiple-use cloth towel, following hygienic hand washing practices in veterinary clinics. In experiment 1, the number of colony forming units (nCFUs) on the hands of subjects prior to washing and post drying were compared. nCFUs were determined after using 1, 2, or 3 paper towel pieces for drying hands. In experiment 2, nCFUs on the hands of subjects prior to washing and post drying were also compared, but this procedure differed from Experiment 1 in that nCFUs on the hands of each consecutive user (1st to 5th) of the multiple-use cloth towel post washing hands were determined. The results suggested that nCFUs significantly decreased only after drying hands using 3 pieces of paper towels compared to the nCFUs before hand washing. Compared to the nCFUs before the hand wash, nCFUs on the hands of the first user were significantly decreased when a cloth towel was used post hand washing. Furthermore, no significant decrease in nCFUs was observed on the hands of consecutive users (2nd, 3rd, and 5th) of the cloth towel. These results indicated that the use of 3 or more pieces of paper towels or a single-use cloth towel to dry hands post hygienic hand washing practices significantly decreased the nCFUs.
