What is the standard recommendation for handwashing duration to prevent infection?

The standard recommendation for handwashing duration to effectively prevent infection is 20 seconds. This duration has been established based on research indicating that washing hands for at least this length of time helps remove dirt, viruses, and bacteria from the skin. The key is that 20 seconds allows enough time to thoroughly scrub all surfaces of the hands, including between the fingers and under the nails, thereby reducing the likelihood of transmitting pathogens.

Shorter durations like 10 seconds may not provide adequate cleaning, while longer times such as 30 seconds or 1 minute may be impractical and lead to a decreased likelihood of compliance among individuals. Therefore, 20 seconds strikes a balance between effectiveness and feasibility, making it the recommended duration for proper hand hygiene in infection prevention protocols.