title: A prospective multicenter study evaluating skin tolerance to standard hand hygiene techniques.
abstract: We performed a prospective multicenter study to assess the dryness and irritation of the hands in health care facilities, and to evaluate whether that disinfection with an alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) is better tolerated than classic handwashing with mild soap and water. Our study was conducted in 9 sites in the summer and winter. A team of investigators evaluated dryness and irritation. This study takes into account most of the individual and environmental risk factors (age, sex, use of a protective agent, constitutional factors, personal factors, external factors, institution, function, and number of consecutive working days). The results from the 1932 assessments collected show that traditional handwashing is a risk factor for dryness and irritation, whereas the use of ABHR causes no skin deterioration and might have a protective effect, particularly in intensive use. These results provide a strong argument to counter the rear-guard resistance to the use of ABHRs.
authors.affiliation: Infection Control Unit, Antoine Lacassagne Cancer Center, 33 Avenue de Valombrose, Nice Cedex 2, France. emmanuel.chamorey@nice.fnclcc.fr
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chamorey
authors.forename: Pierre-Yves
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Marcy
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dandine
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Veyres
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Negrin
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vandenbos
authors.forename: Marie-Josée
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Duval
authors.forename: Sylvain
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: Laëtitia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mazzoni
authors.forename: Viviane
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chapuis
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bodokh
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sacleux
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants