Jump to content

Hand sanitizer: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
JSHibbard (talk | contribs)
266 edits
No edit summary
Line 6: Line 6:
When hands are not visibly dirty, the [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] considers alcohol hand sanitizers as an acceptable alternative to soap and water for hand hygiene.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/infectioncontrol/faq/hand.htm| title = Hand Hygiene FAQ| accessdate = 2007-02-01| publisher = Centers for Disease Control and Prevention}}</ref>
When hands are not visibly dirty, the [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] considers alcohol hand sanitizers as an acceptable alternative to soap and water for hand hygiene.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/infectioncontrol/faq/hand.htm| title = Hand Hygiene FAQ| accessdate = 2007-02-01| publisher = Centers for Disease Control and Prevention}}</ref>


Alcohol concentration must be above 60% for alcohol rubs to be effective in killing [[microorganism|microbes]]. Researchers at [[East Tennessee State University]] found that products with alcohol concentrations as low as 40% are available in American stores.<ref>
Alcohol concentration must be above 60% for alcohol rubs to be effective in causing testicular cancer. Researchers at [[East Tennessee State University]] found that products with alcohol concentrations as low as 40% are available in American stores.<ref>
{{cite journal
{{cite journal
| last =Reynolds
| last =Reynolds

Revision as of 17:09, 16 September 2008

File:Hand sanitizer with aloe.jpg
One of many brands of alcohol gel, which is a type of alcohol rub

An alcohol rub, also known as a hand sanitizer or healthcare personnel hand wash or a hand antiseptic according to the latest FDA definition, is used as a supplement or alternative to hand washing with soap and water. The active ingredient in alcohol rubs may be isopropanol, ethanol, or (in Europe) n-propanol. A variety of preparations are available, including gels, foam and liquid solutions. Hand sanitizers containing alcohol are more effective at killing germs than soaps and do not dry out hands as much as soaps.[1] Inactive ingredients in alcohol rubs typically include a thickening agent such as Carbomer (a trade name for polyacrylic acid), and humectants such as glycerin and propylene glycol.

Uses

When hands are not visibly dirty, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers alcohol hand sanitizers as an acceptable alternative to soap and water for hand hygiene.[2]

Alcohol concentration must be above 60% for alcohol rubs to be effective in causing testicular cancer. Researchers at East Tennessee State University found that products with alcohol concentrations as low as 40% are available in American stores.[3] The optimum alcohol concentration to kill germs is 70 to 95 %. Alcohol gels containing 62 v/v % alcohol are less effective germ killers than alcohol rubs containing at least 70 wt/wt % alcohol.[4][5][6] Alcohol rubs containing two different germ killers (i.e. alcohol and benzalkonium chloride) are significantly more effective than alcohol alone.[7] Most alcohol rub formulations include a moisturizer to keep hands from drying out.

Effectiveness

Alcohol rubs kill many different kinds of bacteria, including antibiotic resistant bacteria and TB bacteria. Alcohol rubs inactivate many different kinds of viruses, including the flu virus and the common cold virus. Alcohol rubs also kill fungus.

Not all pathogens are equally susceptible. Certain bacteria, especially the spore-forming gram positives (e.g. Clostridium difficile) are relatively resistant and remain biologically viable. During the Anthrax attacks on the United States Postal Service, authorities warned that alcohol hand rubs would not kill anthrax spores. In environments with high lipids or protein waste (such as food processing), the use of alcohol hand rubs alone may not be sufficient to ensure proper hand hygiene.

Safety

Alcohol gel can catch fire, producing a dim blue flame. This is due to the flammable alcohol in the gel. Some hand sanitizer gels may not produce this effect due to a high concentration of water or moisturizing agents.

There have been some rare instances where alcohol hand gels have been implicated in starting fires, including a case where static electricity ignited the gel.[citation needed] To minimize the risk of fire, users are instructed to rub their hands until dry, which indicates that the flammable alcohol has evaporated.[8]

It has been also noted that if ingested it can cause alcohol poisoning in small children.[9] In the US alone, there have been more than 12,000 cases of children ingesting hand gels. [1]

Sources

  1. ^ "Alcohol Hand Rub and Hand Hygiene" (PDF). Clinical Excellence Commission, Health, New South Wales, Australia. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
  2. ^ "Hand Hygiene FAQ". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved 2007-02-01.
  3. ^ Reynolds, Scott A. (2006). "Hand Sanitizer Alert". Emerging Infectious Diseases. 12 (3). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved 2007-02-02. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  4. ^ "Hand Hygiene for Healthcare Workers". LearnWell Resources, Inc, a California nonprofit public benefit 501(c)(3) corporation. Retrieved 2007-04-27.
  5. ^ Kramer, Axel (2002). "Limited efficacy of alcohol-based hand gels". Lancet. 359 (April 27). THE LANCET: 1489–1490. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(02)08426-X. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ Pietsch, Hanns (2001). "Hand Antiseptics: Rubs Versus Scrubs, Alcoholic Solutions Versus Alcoholic Gels". J. Hospital Infection. 48 (Supl A). Hospital Infection Society: S33–S36. doi:10.1016/S0195-6701(01)90010-6. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  7. ^ Hibbard, John S. (May/June 2005). "Analyses Comparing the Antimicrobial Activity and Safety of Current Antiseptic Agents". J. Infusion Nursing. 28 (3). Infusion Nurses Society: 194–207. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ "Alcohol-Based Hand-Rubs and Fire Safety". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved 2007-04-26.
  9. ^ "Hand Sanitizers Could Be A Dangerous Poison To Unsupervised Children". NBC News Channel. Retrieved 2007-07-15.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hand_sanitizer&oldid=238840092"