ABSTRACT
In 1988, a review of evidence for a causal link between handwashing and infection included literature published over 107 years, 1879 through 1986 (1). Interestingly, very little experimental data were evidenced for the century between Semmelweis and the late 1970s; the four clinical trials reported were all published in the 1980s. Since then there appeared to be a resurgence of interest and study in the area of handwashing and infections; the review of literature in that area was extended for six years to include January 1987 through June 1993. This chapter presents a comprehensive review of the literature published from January 1987 to June 1993linking handwashing and infections.
