title: Do atopics tolerate alcohol-based hand rubs? A prospective, controlled, randomized double-blind clinical trial.
abstract: Alcohol-based hand rubs are used frequently in healthcare settings, but their tolerance among atopic subjects is unknown. The dermal tolerance to five alcohol-based hand rubs was assessed among atopic and non-atopic subjects in a repetitive occlusive patch test. In total, 54 subjects were analysed. One half of the subjects were atopic (modified Erlanger atopy score > or = 8), the other half were non-atopic. Treatments were controlled with water and 2% sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS). Treatment sites were assessed by visual inspection (tolerability score 0-4). Skin redness was determined with a chromameter. The overall mean tolerability to all five hand rubs was lower than or identical to the negative control (0.02+/-0.07) and significantly different from the SDS control (0.19+/-0.39). Skin redness was in the same range as for the negative control (0.15+/-0.8) which was significantly lower than the SDS control (1.35+/-1.6). A comparison of the atopic and non-atopic subjects revealed no significant difference. In conclusion, we found that tolerance to the five alcohol-based hand rubs was good among atopic and non-atopic subjects.
authors.affiliation: Bode Chemie GmbH & Co, Scientific Affairs, Melanchthonstr. 27, DE-22525 Hamburg, Germany. guenter.kampf@bode-chemie.de
authors.forename: Günter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kampf
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wigger-Alberti
authors.forename: Klaus-Peter
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Wilhelm
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000209:etiology*; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000209:etiology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D000431:Ethanol