Why is using an alcohol-based hand rub beneficial?

Using an alcohol-based hand rub is beneficial primarily because it is faster than other methods of hand hygiene. When healthcare professionals are in situations where they need to sanitize their hands quickly—such as during patient care or in busy environments—applying an alcohol-based hand rub allows for immediate disinfection without the need to go through the longer process of washing hands with soap and water. This time efficiency can be crucial in healthcare settings, where rapid response and maintaining hygiene standards are vital to patient safety and infection control.

While alcohol-based hand rubs do not require extensive hand washing (which makes them convenient), their primary advantage lies in the speed at which they can be applied effectively. They do eliminate the need for soap in many situations, but this is a secondary benefit rather than the core reason for their use. Furthermore, although alcohol-based hand rubs are effective in reducing the number of germs, they don't necessarily eliminate the need for soap in all instances—such as when hands are visibly soiled or greasy. Thus, speed stands out as the key benefit, making option B the appropriate choice.