USA TODAY
Hand-washing always has been important, and the pandemic further magnified its crucial role in helping stop the spread of germs. But a new study also suggests the method used for drying hands can be just as important to public health.
The use of high-speed hand dryers can transfer germs to a person's clothing and lead to an increase in spreading those contaminants to other surfaces, according to the pilot study published Wednesday in "Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology."
Volunteers in the study took part in an experiment in which they dried their hands with either a hand dryer or paper towels while wearing an apron to test if any contaminants were spread to their clothing. They then took varied paths around a hospital and touched commonly used surfaces.