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Hand Disinfection MeSH Descriptor Data 2026


MeSH Heading
Hand Disinfection
Tree Number(s)
N06.850.670.150.500
Unique ID
D006235
RDF Unique Identifier
http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/D006235
Scope Note
The act of cleansing the hands with water or other liquid, with or without the inclusion of soap or other detergent, for the purpose of destroying infectious microorganisms.
Entry Version
HAND DISINFECT
Entry Term(s)
Disinfection, Hand
Hand Sanitization
Hand Washing
Handwashing
Scrubbing, Surgical
Surgical Scrubbing
Previous Indexing
Cross Infection/prevention & control (1966-1981)
Disinfection (1975-1981)
Sterilization (1966-1974)
See Also
Hand Sanitizers
Public MeSH Note
2013; see HANDWASHING 1982-2012
History Note
2013 (1982)
Date Introduced
1982/01/01
Last Updated
2015/11/24
Hand Disinfection Preferred
Handwashing Narrower
Surgical Scrubbing Narrower
Hand Sanitization Narrower
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