Electrical capacitance readings taken in the web space between the base of the thumb and the forefinger also decreased significantly during the 2-week period of
using soap-and-water hand washing (mean baseline reading, 24.227.81;
mean final reading, 18.265.51; P=.0003). Figure 4 shows the results of phases 1 and 2 separately.
In contrast, electrical capacitance readings decreased slightly, but not significantly, during the 2- week period of using the alcoholic hand gel (mean baseline
reading, 24.156.98; mean final reading, 23.085.24; P=.31).
The average final electrical capacitance reading with soap-and-water hand washing (18.26) was significantly lower than the average final reading with the alcoholic–hand-gel regimen (23.08; P=.0003).