title: Hand antisepsis: evaluation of a sprayer system for alcohol distribution.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the usefulness of a new alcohol sprayer by comparing it with an individual bottle of alcohol. Patterns of use and perceptions among healthcare personnel were compared for the two products.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational study recording the volume of alcohol used and the compliance rate (frequency of hand antisepsis per number of opportunities), and a survey of healthcare workers' perceptions of the different hand hygiene strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 20-bed medical unit in a public hospital in Marseille, France.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthcare workers of an infectious disease unit
  
  
  METHODS
  Hand hygiene alcohol systems (sprayer vs individual bottle, 70% ethyl alcohol).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sprayer was used more frequently than the individual bottle (12.6 vs 9.7 hand washes per day). With the sprayer system, compliance was 91% for physicians, 28% for nurses, and 8% for housekeeping personnel. Alcohol hand antisepsis was preferred to washing hands with soap and water in low-risk situations such as simple entrance into a room (91% vs 36%; P < 10(-6)) or simple contact with a patient (69% vs 40; P < .005). The sprayer system was considered easier to use (95%), more hygienic (90%), and faster (92%), with a better tolerance than the individual bottle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The new alcohol sprayer should improve rapid hand antisepsis.
authors.affiliation: Service de Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Nord, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Barrau
authors.forename: Clarisse
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rovery
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drancourt
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brouqui
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D010564:Personnel, Hospital
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D000431:Ethanol