Effectiveness and microbial contamination of an in-house alcohol-based hand rub.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness and contamination of an in-house alcohol-based hand rub in a real clinical setting and to compare its effectiveness in bacterial reduction with that of a commercial product.


METHODS
Effectiveness of the hand rub in bacterial reduction was compared to a commercial product using the modified antiseptic/disinfectant testing method of European Standard (EN 1500) in 12 volunteers. In-house alcohol-based hand rub in 50 clinical wards were serially collected and cultured to determine contamination.


RESULTS
The bacterial reduction factor of the hand rub was comparable to that of the commercial product. There was no organisms grown from serial cultures of the in-house alcohol-based hand rub in use for 28 days.


CONCLUSIONS
The in-house alcohol-based hand rub was effective and there was no contamination up to 28 days in use.
Trakoolsomboon
Suwanna
S
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok.
Kachintorn
Kanchana
K
Cherdrungsi
Rachada
R
Sangsirivuthi
Kantima
K
Tribuddharat
Chanwit
C
Danchaivijitr
Somwang
S
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000191:economics; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000191:economics; D004340:Drug Contamination; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D000431:Ethanol / Q000032:analysis* / Q000191:economics; D005782:Gels / Q000032:analysis / Q000191:economics; D006225:Hand / Q000382:microbiology*; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D013997:Time Factors
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D004202:Disinfectants; D005782:Gels; D000431:Ethanol