Effects of alcohol-based hand hygiene solutions on breath alcohol detection in the emergency department.
This study aimed to investigate the effects of alcohol-based hand hygiene solution (ABHS) use by care providers on point-of-care alcohol breath analyzer interpretation under different clinically relevant conditions. Among each test condition (foam vehicle with immediate testing, gel vehicle with immediate testing, allowing hands to dry after the use of ABHS, and donning gloves after the use of ABHS), alcohol was detected in breath at 1 minute after use of ABHS. Because the use of ABHS by individuals administering breath alcohol detection may result in false-positive detection of alcohol, staff using these devices should consider traditional hand hygiene with soap and water.
Section of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. Electronic address: Beth.Emerson@yale.edu.
Beth L
BL
Emerson
Section of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
Travis
T
Whitfill
Section of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
Carl R
CR
Baum
Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital, New Haven, CT.
Katherine
K
Garlin-Kane
Section of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
Karen
K
Santucci
D000328:Adult; D000438:Alcohols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis*; D001944:Breath Tests; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000438:Alcohols; D004202:Disinfectants
Alcohol-based hand sanitizer solution; Breath alcohol detection; Hand hygiene