J Korean Acad Nurs.  2013 Jun;43(3):305-311. 10.4040/jkan.2013.43.3.305.

Comparison of Antimicrobial Effect of Alcohol Gel according to the Amount and Drying Time in Health Personnel Hand Hygiene

• Ji YJ
• Jeong JS

• KMID: 1707120
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2013.43.3.305

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of alcohol gel according to the amount and drying time in health personnel hand hygiene and to promote in their practice adequate and effective hand hygiene.
METHODS
The cross-over experimental study was performed with 14 volunteers. Hands were artificially contaminated with 5 mL of 10(8) CFU/mL of Serratia marcescens (ATCC 14756) and four different alcohol gel hand hygiene methods varying by the amount of alcohol gel (2 mL vs. 1 mL) and drying time (complete vs. incomplete) were compared. Samples were collected by glove juice sampling procedures.
RESULTS
Mean log reduction values of the four different hand hygiene methods were 2.22+/-0.36, 1.26+/-0.53, 1.49+/-0.60, 0.89+/-0.47 respectively for the 4 groups: adequate amount (2mL) and complete dry (30 seconds rubbing followed by 2 min air-dry), inadequate amount (1 mL) and complete dry, adequate amount and incomplete dry (15 seconds rubbing and no air-dry), and inadequate amount and incomplete dry. The difference was statistically significant in the adequate amount and complete dry group compared to other three groups (p<.001).
CONCLUSION
Only alcohol gel hand hygiene with adequate amount and complete drying was satisfactory by U.S. FDA-TFM efficacy requirements for antiseptic hand hygiene products.

Keyword

Hand hygiene; Alcohol gel; Cross-over studies; Health personnel

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Anti-Infective Agents, Local/*pharmacology
Cross-Over Studies
Ethanol/chemistry/*pharmacology
Gels/*chemistry
Hand Hygiene/*methods
Humans
Middle Aged
Serratia marcescens/*drug effects
Time Factors
Young Adult
Anti-Infective Agents, Local
Ethanol
Gels