Low rates of cutaneous adverse reactions to alcohol-based hand hygiene solution during prolonged use in a large teaching hospital.
We assessed cutaneous adverse reactions (CARs) to alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) after the introduction of a hand hygiene culture change program at our institution. CARs were infrequent among exposed health care workers (HCWs) (13/2,750; 0.47%; 1 CAR per 72 years of HCW exposure) and were not influenced by the duration or intensity of ABHR use but were associated with the presence of irritant contact dermatitis.
Graham
M
M
Infectious Diseases Department, Austin Hospital, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia.
Nixon
R
R
Burrell
L J
LJ
Bolger
C
C
Johnson
P D R
PD
Grayson
M L
ML
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006225:Hand / Q000382:microbiology; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology; D012996:Solutions / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D012996:Solutions; D000431:Ethanol