title: Dermal absorption of isopropyl alcohol from a commercial hand rub: implications for its use in hand decontamination.
abstract: Isopropyl alcohol-containing hand rubs are widely used in healthcare for hand decontamination. Ten healthy adult volunteers applied a commercially available isopropyl alcohol-containing hand rub to their hands every 10 min over a 4 h period. Blood isopropyl alcohol levels were measured at the beginning and end of the study. At the end of the study, measurable blood isopropyl alcohol levels (range 0.5-1.8 mg/l) were recorded in nine subjects. We confirmed that isopropyl alcohol could be absorbed through the intact skin of adult humans. The social and medical implications are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Whittington Hospital, Highgate Hill, London NW19 5NF, UK. pturner@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Saeed
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kelsey
mesh_terms: D019840:2-Propanol / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012869:Skin Absorption; D012915:Soaps / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012997:Solvents / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D007093:Imidazoles; D012915:Soaps; D012997:Solvents; C062827:hexedine; D019840:2-Propanol