The efficacy of handwashing to prevention transmission of infections in the hospital is very important. The purposes of this study were to compare type and colonies count of bacteria found on Health care personnel hands washing with soap and 0.5% chlorhexidine in 70% alcohol add 1% glycerol, and to compare bacterial contamination of the solutions, soaps and towels. Total of 110 surgical ward health care personnels of Hatyai Hospital were recruited into this study. Fifty-six subjects washed thier hands by soap and water and then dried thoroughly with towel. While fifty-four subjects washed thier hands by the solution. A baseline count was obtained from all samples and percent reduction in skin flora were measured before handwashing, immediately, 5 minutes and 10 minutes after handwashing. Gram positive cocci (Staphylococcus coagulase negative, Micrococcus spp.) were commomly found. Those found next to gram positive cocci were gram positive bacilli (Bacillus spp.) and gram negative bacilli (Acinetobacter spp., Enterobacter spp. and Klebsiella spp.). The reduction of bacteria in hands washing by soap and the solution were 30-SOX and over 90% respectively. There were no significant difference in the mean of colonies forming unit before handwashing between soap and the solution (P=0.299). However,after controlling the colonies forming unit before handwashing, the difference average of colonies forming unit of bacteria between the two groups after handwashing immediately, 5 minutes and 10 minutes were statistically reported (P=0.0001, 0.0001 and 0.0001, respectively). Bacteria contamination were found very common (94.7X) in the soaps and towels used in this study. It was remarkable that the solutions were not contaminated at all during the study. The common bacteria isolated from soaps and towels were gram positive cocci (Staphylococcus coagulase negative,Micrococcus spp.) gram positive bacilli (Bacillus spp.) and gram negative bacilli (Acinetobacter anitratus, Moraxella spp., Acinetobacter lwoffi, Klebsiella pneumoniae). Bacterial contamination in towels were obviously heavily than in soaps. Colonies forming unit found in towels and soaps ranged between 2-251,000 (G.M. 1,106.9.) and 1-61,900 (G.M. 228.1) cfu./ml. respectively. In crowded surgical wards where isolation and handwashing facilities are limited. The combined handwashing antiseptic (0.5% chlor hexidine in 70% alcohol add 1% glycerol) should be considered as an alternative for control of cross infection from hands to patients. Nevertheless, conservative handwashing with soap,water and towel still be cheaper than using the antiseptic. Cost-effective analysis in wards other than crowded surgical wards still need to be determined.