Research on Infection Control that is Both Safe and Effective

Infection control methods such as hand-washing have a long history but have become more familiar since the 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Control methods that are not only highly effective against viruses but also safe and sustainable have been in demand so as to prevent infection through various routes such as direct contact, droplets, and aerosols.

In the field of hand hygiene, Kao discovered that hand skin has antibacterial and antiviral properties (the so-called “hand barrier”), and we have been promoting technology development based on the mechanism underlying it. Conventional hand hygiene methods, such as hand-washing and alcohol disinfection, can eliminate pathogens for a short time but recontamination can occur by subsequently touching something. So we are aiming to improve the level of hand hygiene by enhancing the power innate to the skin.