Two in-vivo protocols for testing virucidal efficacy of handwashing and hand disinfection.
Whole-hands and fingerpads of seven volunteers were contaminated with poliovirus type 1 Sabin strain in order to evaluate virucidal efficacy of different forms of handwashing and handrub with alcohols and alcohol-based disinfectants. In the whole-hand protocol, handwashing with unmedicated soap for 5 min and handrubbing with 80% ethanol yielded a log reduction factor (RF) of > 2, whereas the log RF by 96.8% ethanol exceeded 3.2. With the fingerpad model ethanol produced a greater log RF than iso- or n-propanol. Comparing five commercial hand disinfectants and a chlorine solution (1.0% chloramine T-solution) for handrub, Desderman and Promanum, both composed of ethanol, yielded log RFs of 2.47 and 2.26 respectively after an application time of 60 s, similar to 1.0% chloramine T-solution (log RF of 2.28). Autosept, Mucasept, and Sterillium, based on n-propanol and/or isopropanol, were found to be significantly less effective (log RFs of 1.16, 1.06 and 1.52 respectively). A comparison of a modified whole-hand and the fingerpad protocol with Promanum showed similar results with the two systems suggesting both models are suitable for testing the in-vivo efficacy of handwashing agents and hand disinfectants which are used without any water.
Steinmann
J
J
Abteilung für Klinische Virologie am Staatl. Hygiene-Institut Bremen.
Nehrkorn
R
R
Meyer
A
A
Becker
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000438:Alcohols; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers; D006225:Hand; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017955:Poliovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012867:Skin / Q000821:virology
D000438:Alcohols