A simple way to combat hospital infections and a comprehensive European route planner were the winners in a contest for student entrepreneurs.

Idea Idol, held at the Said Business School, brought together some of the brightest business brains at Oxford University to compete in a Dragon's Den-style competition.

The joint winners were fledgling firms Altitude Medical and Zoombu, which were awarded £4,500 each.

Altitude Medical, set up by Alexander Oshmyansky and Dan Nicolau, has produced a simple device which involves antiseptic being released every time a door handle is used in a hospital.

The inventors claim it will help reduce the risk of infections and superbugs in hospitals caused by staff and visitors failing to wash their hands properly.

Mr Oshmyansky, 23, said: "It was fantastic to win and this will help us build a prototype, which will be tested in hospitals.

"Use of our product will dramatically lower transmission rates and save and improve lives, while tapping into an enormous and unexplored market."

Altitude Medical also received a £500 People's Choice Award after winning the vote of about 300 local entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, business angels and fellow students.

Zoombu is an idea for an Internet site to be set up by Alistair Hann, who describes it as the ultimate way to plan a trip between any two places in Europe.

It searches every permutation of coach, rail, air, sea and car travel, allowing users to find the fastest, cheapest or greenest routes between the destinations. Tickets can then be booked on the site.

Mr Hann, 26, said: "The idea came from a friend, who was frustrated about how long it took to plan a journey home.

"The money will help me develop a working prototype. I would love to be a millionaire by the time I'm 30."

In the competition, six finalists had to deliver a two-minute pitch before facing tough questioning by the judges, who included Deborah Meaden, a panellist on BBC TV's Dragon's Den.

Idea Idol spokesman Duncan Turnbull said: "The competition was a massive success. Everyone will be keeping their eyes on the winners in the future."