Since 1965, besides the use of scrubbing disinfectants, a number of alcoholic handrub methods are employed in the surgical skin disinfection of the hands. These contain, in addition to the alcohols, substances such as phenols and among others, cation-active substances. The efficacy of the substances is examined by means of in vitro-tests and through investigations conducted under conditions approximating those in the practice in accordance with the guidelines set down by the German Society of Hygiene and Microbiology. The comparison between the alcohol-containing handrub disinfectants and the scrubbing methods indicates clearly that the latter achieve only a low germ-reduction effect. The investigation on 4 alcoholic handrub disinfectants showed an initial potent germ-reducing and a good long-term effect. When mechanical scrubbing of the hands is carried out in a timely relationship to the application of the handrub -method, it is found to be able to produce extensive dermal damages. The reduction in the transient microbial flora by means of the mechanical hand scrubbing is minimal. The study on the germ-reduction after surgical disinfection of the hands using alcoholic handrub disinfectants in combination with and without initial soap-scrubbing demonstrated no differences, neither in the number of sterile hands nor in the averages of germ-reduction. The investigations conducted confirmed the excellent efficacy of the alcoholic handrub disinfectants and pointed out that it is unnecessary to combine mechanical hand scrubbing and the employment of alcoholic disinfectants in the same process.