In which situation should soap and water be used over antiseptic hand rub?

The use of soap and water is essential when hands are visibly soiled. This is because soap and water are more effective at physically removing dirt, debris, and pathogens from the skin than antiseptic hand rubs, which are primarily designed to kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms on clean hands. When hands are dirty or contaminated with substances like food residue, blood, or other organic materials, merely using an antiseptic solution may not adequately clean the hands and could leave harmful pathogens behind. Therefore, the best practice is to wash with soap and water to ensure complete cleanliness and hygiene before proceeding with tasks like preparing food or caring for patients.

In contrast, using an antiseptic hand rub is suitable for situations where hands are not visibly dirty, as it can quickly reduce the number of germs effectively in such cases.