Experts say it takes 15 to 20 seconds of vigorous hand washing with soap and water to effectively kill the germs which cause infections.

Yet the study found that people washed their hands for, on average, only about six seconds.

A third of people do not use soap when washing their hands and 10 per cent do not wash their hands at all

Professor Carl Borchgrevink, associate professor of hospitality business and his team observed hand washing in toilets in bars, restaurants and other public establishments.

The study claims to be one of the first to take into account factors such as duration of the hand washing and whether people used soap.

Among the findings were that 15 per cent of men did not wash their hands at all, compared with seven per cent of women and when they did wash their hands, only 50 per cent of men used soap, compared with 78 per cent of women.

In another study, researchers from a group of US universities recently revealed that men are more likely to wash their hands after going to the toilet if they see messages reminding them to do so.

The scientists posted signs in college restrooms that read 'four out of five students wash their hands EVERY time they use the bathroom'.

Before the posters went up male participants self-reported washing their hands 75per cent of the time but after the reminders were pasted above sinks this figure jumped to 86 per cent.

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