title: Does the use of alcohol-based hand gel sanitizer reduce travellers' diarrhea and gastrointestinal upset?: A preliminary survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer is recommended by the CDC to reduce the risk for travellers' diarrhoea, but its effectiveness has not been assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated the potential protective effect of hand sanitizer use on the occurrence of diarrhoea and/or vomiting in 200 international travellers, who were returning home, at an international airport. We also conducted a knowledge, aptitude and practice survey about hand gel use among international travellers consulting for pre-travel advice at a specialized clinic.
  
  
  RESULTS
  200 returning travellers were included of which 32.5% declared having used alcohol-based hand sanitizer during travel. Travellers who used hand sanitizer reported diarrhoea and vomiting significantly less frequently than those who did not (17% vs. 30%, OR = 0.47; 95% CI [0.21-0.97], p = 0.04). A total of 257 travellers consulting for pre-travel advice were included. A majority of travellers knew that hand sanitizer may be used for hand hygiene and had already used hand sanitizer; 72% planned to bring hand sanitizer during their next travel.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of hand sanitizer is highly acceptable by travellers and is associated with a reduction in the incidence of travellers' diarrhoea and/or vomiting.
authors: Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, CHU Nord, Pôle Infectieux, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, 13015 Marseille, France.
authors: Delphine
authors: D
authors: Henriey
authors: Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, CHU Nord, Pôle Infectieux, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, 13015 Marseille, France.
authors: Jean
authors: J
authors: Delmont
authors: Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, CHU Nord, Pôle Infectieux, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, 13015 Marseille, France; Aix Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, Faculté de Médecine, 27 bd Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France. Electronic address: philippe.gautret@club-internet.fr.
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Gautret
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D059028:Airports; D000438:Alcohols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D064548:Hand Sanitizers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014195:Travel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014839:Vomiting / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000438:Alcohols; D064548:Hand Sanitizers
keywords: Aptitude; Hand sanitizer; Knowledge; Practice; Travellers' diarrhea