Development of a Low-Cost, Small Footprint, Point-of use, Hand & Forearm Sanitisation Station utilising tap water.

Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) is an NHS high priority, further heightened by the Covid-19 pandemic. The main pillars of IPC are use of PPE and rigorous hand hygiene.

The preferred hand sanitisation method is handwashing (anti-microbial soap & water, rinse, dry with paper towels ~30 seconds total time) which achieves log 3 microbial inactivation.

Alcohol gels are fast and convenient, but frequent use leads to dry/cracked skin that increases infection risk. Effectiveness varies with alcohol content & types; less effective than hand washing achieving < log 2 inactivation. Covid-19 has rendered supplies scarce due to greater demand and reduced production.

Our proposed system uses activated water vapour to achieve sanitisation from tap water at point of need, generating water vapour entrained in a flowing air-stream. This air-water vapour stream is then ducted to a delivery manifold to 'fog' user's hands/wrists/forearms -- providing effective disinfection within 15 seconds.