This means using soap and water at home and alcohol gel in hospitals and clinics. The HSE said some people are washing their hands insufficiently, missing areas like the tips of their fingers. Professor Martin Cormican, HSE National Lead for Antibiotic Resistance, said: “Things that look clean often have billions of bacteria and viruses so you can pick them up from touching most surfaces.“It is really important that you clean your hands well with soap and water and then dry them on a paper (or clean) towel.