Imagine this: It is Monday morning at a small general practice in Munich. The receptionist welcomes the first patient, who is coughing. The doctor examines the next patient, followed by a vaccination and wound care. Often, only seconds pass between all these interactions. In moments like these, fast, reliable hand disinfection determines not only the health of an individual patient, but the safety of everyone in the waiting room.
After the pandemic, many thought that hand hygiene would fade into the background again. But the reality in 2026 looks different. Noroviruses in kindergartens and restaurants, resistant germs in practices and clinics, and new variants of respiratory infections continue to keep the hygiene debate alive. According to the Robert Koch Institute, around 600,000 healthcare-associated infections occur in Germany every year - many of them could be prevented through consistent hand disinfection. The Federal Ministry of Health confirms that a simple measure such as hand disinfection remains one of the most effective weapons against hospital- and practice-acquired pathogens.
In October 2025, the World Health Organization published new guidelines on hand hygiene in community settings and emphasized that, in practices, schools, and public spaces, the combination of effectiveness and user-friendliness is crucial.
This is exactly where modern solutions come into play. Instead of traditional liquids, more and more practices and facilities are opting for disinfectant gels and smart, touchless dispensers. These systems not only make hygiene more effective, but also more practical - while being gentle on the skin. Below, you will learn why this combination will become the new standard in 2026 and how it works in real-world settings.
Why Gels Make Daily Practice Easier
Liquid disinfectants were long the undisputed standard. They are inexpensive and act quickly. In the hectic reality of a medical practice, however, they show clear weaknesses: They drip easily, run over the hands, evaporate unevenly, and often leave an unpleasant sticky feeling. Especially for medical staff who perform up to 50-80 disinfections per shift, this quickly becomes a problem and reduces their willingness to use them regularly.
Disinfectant gels elegantly solve these challenges. Thanks to their viscous consistency, the product stays exactly where it belongs. It spreads evenly without dripping and enables more precise adherence to the contact time. Particularly with an ethanol content of 85%, this results in an optimal balance between strong virucidal action and good skin tolerance. In practice, this saves noticeable time and reduces waste.
Practices also benefit from better dosing. A gel can be applied precisely without excess dripping onto the floor or treatment chair. This not only reduces cleaning effort but also minimizes slipping hazards in heavily frequented areas. Many teams report that switching to gels noticeably eases their daily routine and increases motivation for regular disinfection.
Skin protection as a decisive factor
Doctors and nursing staff know the dilemma all too well: Frequent disinfection damages the skin's natural barrier. Modern gels therefore contain additional care complexes that provide moisture and support the skin's lipids. The result is less redness, less itching, and significantly greater acceptance among the entire team. Studies show that gels often perform better than pure liquids in terms of skin tolerance because they evaporate more slowly and allow the conditioning ingredients to work for longer.
In practice, this means: Between two patients, you reach for the gel, rub it in, and can continue working immediately without wet hands or an unpleasant after-feel. It is also more pleasant for patients: no dripping product on the treatment chair and no bothersome odors with fragrance-free variants. In the long term, this reduces absence rates due to skin problems - an important advantage in times of staff shortages.
Moreover, better skin tolerance promotes long-term compliance. When the team notices that their hands do not burn or feel tight after disinfection, they reach for the bottle much more often. This completes the cycle: better tolerance leads to more frequent use and ultimately to measurably fewer infections.
Sterillium Gel pure as a prime example
A product that combines these benefits particularly well is Sterillium Gel pure. It was specifically developed for use in closed systems, is fragrance-free, and offers a broad spectrum of efficacy against bacteria, fungi, and viruses - including noroviruses. In a practice's daily routine, it saves time while also being gentle on the team's hands.
The gel-like texture provides a pleasant feel on the skin without leaving residue. Many users particularly appreciate that the gel absorbs quickly and does not leave a sticky layer. This makes it ideal for sensitive areas such as dental or dermatological practices, where skin contact is especially frequent.
The problem with conventional dispensers
Everyone remembers them from the past: open bottles or simple pump dispensers at the sink. They are operated with bare hands, collect dust and germs, and can quickly become a cross-contamination risk themselves. In practices where hundreds of patients come and go every day, this is no minor issue.
Especially in waiting rooms or treatment rooms, where many different people touch the same surfaces, a conventional dispenser can unintentionally become a source of infection. Studies on hand hygiene repeatedly show that contact with the dispenser head alone can paradoxically reduce how often the product is used. There is also the practical effort involved: Bottles must be refilled frequently - a process that takes time and creates an additional risk of contamination.
CleanSafe technology as a solution
An elegant solution to these problems is offered by the closed Hartmann CleanSafe touchless set. Each 1-liter bottle has an integrated pump (Clean-Tip) that is used only once. As the bottle empties, it collapses - no air is drawn back in, no disinfectant is lost, and waste remains minimal. The dispenser itself operates touchlessly: An infrared sensor detects the hand, dispenses an exact dose at one of three adjustable levels, and uses an LED to indicate the battery and fill levels. An integrated lock protects against tampering.
In practice, this means: The medical assistant simply holds their hands under the dispenser, the gel is dispensed without direct contact, and the risk of germ transmission is significantly reduced. This technology proves especially advantageous in waiting rooms, treatment rooms, or dental practices where aerosols play a role. Installation is straightforward - using screws or adhesive - and maintenance remains minimal.
Benefits at a glance
Touchless systems not only reduce cross-contamination, they also increase compliance: employees disinfect their hands more frequently because the process is quick and convenient. At the same time, the system requires little maintenance and is more environmentally friendly thanks to the collapsing bottles.
Compared directly with open dispensers, the closed technology scores particularly well in terms of hygiene. No open bottle means no unnecessary evaporation, no contamination and consistently high efficacy down to the last drop. The LED display and flexible dosing also make the system user-friendly for different target groups - from children to elderly patients.
Stationary and mobile combined
The smartest strategy for 2026 is an intelligent combination: a large touchless dispenser in the practice entrance area for patients and employees, plus compact solutions for use on the go.
The Bode Sterillium Protect & Care disinfectant gel 35 ml is ideal for a coat or doctor's bag. It is small, always within reach and offers the same high efficacy as the larger versions. General practitioners on rounds, community care staff or parents travelling benefit equally from it.
The small bottle is not only practical, but also hygienic: it is used exclusively by its owner, thereby minimising the risk of cross-contamination. Many practices provide their teams with such mini formats and quickly observe an increase in personal hygiene compliance.
Everyday scenarios
In a dental practice, the touchless dispenser is positioned directly next to the treatment chair. In a production facility, it is mounted centrally in the break room. At home, the 35 ml bottle goes into a handbag - ready to hand for the supermarket, kindergarten or subway. This creates a consistent hygiene concept that transitions seamlessly from the practice into private life.
Families with young children or relatives in need of care particularly appreciate this combination. In the office or while travelling, the compact gel ensures that reliable hygiene is never compromised. Overall, it is clear that the future lies not in a single product, but in a well-considered mix of stationary and mobile formats.
Broad spectrum of efficacy
Sterillium Gel pure and comparable products meet the strict requirements of the VAH List and European standard EN 1500. They are bactericidal, fungicidal and virucidal - including against enveloped viruses and noroviruses as part of hygienic hand disinfection.
Long-term studies on skin tolerability confirm that daily use causes significantly fewer irritations than conventional liquids. The successful combination of a high alcohol content and conditioning additives makes the products well tolerated even with intensive use. In addition, they are HACCP-certified and are therefore also suitable for practices with food-related areas.
Certifications and practical evidence
Closed systems such as CleanSafe offer another decisive advantage: They minimize the risk of contaminating the disinfectant itself. Unlike open canisters or conventional bottles, into which air and germs can enter during refilling, the product remains protected in the collapsible bottle until the last drop. In practice, regular audits and internal hygiene protocols confirm the high effectiveness of such solutions. Many facilities document a noticeable decline in infection cases after switching to touchless systems. An important factor in overall effectiveness and tolerability is, of course, the active ingredient selected. The systems presented here use highly concentrated ethanol - specifically 85% ethanol in Sterillium Gel pure. Ethanol is considered particularly skin-friendly for hygienic hand disinfection and is ideally suited for frequent use on intact skin. It offers a broad spectrum of activity against bacteria, fungi, and many viruses, including noroviruses, and leaves the skin feeling pleasant when properly formulated with conditioning components. In addition to ethanol, other alcohols such as 1-propanol and isopropanol (2-propanol) are also used for disinfection. Isopropanol is characterized by a strong bactericidal effect even at lower concentrations and is often preferred for surface and technical disinfection. However, ethanol is generally better tolerated during prolonged skin contact and is therefore the first choice for hand disinfectants in practices and sensitive areas. Learn more about the differences and applications of isopropanol in the article “All-rounder isopropanol - the ideal solution for cleaning and disinfection”.Medical practices and clinics
In general practices, dental practices, and veterinary practices, touchless systems noticeably reduce the infection rate. Many practices report positive effects after making the switch. Touchless operation and skin-friendly gels help the team carry out disinfection more consistently. The technology is also increasingly becoming standard in larger hospitals, especially in high-traffic areas such as emergency departments and outpatient clinics. Staff appreciate the time savings and the noticeable relief for their skin. Patients visibly feel safer when they see modern, touchless solutions in use.Other areas of application
In industry and manufacturing, such systems protect employees from cross-contamination. In schools and kindergartens, they ensure safe hygiene without constant refilling. Even in private settings - among families with small children or older relatives - compact gels are becoming an everyday necessity. Public facilities such as town halls, libraries, and fitness studios are also discovering the benefits. Touchless technology is a perfect fit for modern hygiene concepts that focus on prevention rather than mere reaction. Overall, it is clear that these solutions have their greatest impact where many people come together and fast, reliable hygiene is needed.Conclusion and practical recommendations
Hand hygiene in 2026 is no longer an annoying obligation, but a smart, skin-friendly, and efficient routine. High-quality gels such as Sterillium Gel pure, touchless dispensers such as the Hartmann CleanSafe touchless set, and practical mobile solutions such as Bode Sterillium Protect & Care 35 ml make it possible to combine effectiveness, comfort, and safety to the greatest possible extent. Those who rely on this modern combination not only protect patients and staff, but also make everyday life noticeably more pleasant overall. After all, true hygiene begins with the right product in the right format - and with technology that puts people first. Practical checklist for practices and facilities:- Install touchless dispensers in the entrance area and every treatment room
- Choose fragrance-free gels for sensitive skin and high acceptance
- Combine stationary and mobile formats sensibly
- Conduct regular team training sessions and measure results
- Choose closed systems with collapsible bottles to minimize waste and prevent contamination
