Microbiology Report on Efficacy of Hand-Rubbing with Antibacterial Gel

Report on The Efficacy of hand rubbing with alcohol based solution versus standard hand washing with antiseptic soap: randomized controlled trial.

The Efficacy of hand rubbing with alcohol based solution versus standard hand washing with antiseptic soap: randomized controlled trial, set out to find a way to reduce hand contamination during routine patient care. Hand washing is encouraged as the best way to prevent cross transmission of micro-organisms and nosocomial infections. Unfortunately, most studies published in the past 20 years report less than 50% of hospital employees routinely comply with hand washing measures. Efforts to improve compliance include increasing accessible sinks and educating healthcare workers but studies have shown no sustained improvement in compliance. While hand rubbing with alcohol based, waterless hand antiseptic as a substitute for hand washing with soap and water has led to a significant improvement in compliance, in recent studies. However, another study has shown that some hospital staff may be reluctant to use alcohol based, waterless hand antiseptic due to a lack of confidence in it's efficacy.

This prospective randomized clinical trial involved a blinded evaluation of microbiological results, and was performed June to July of 2000. Three intensive care units (one medical and two surgical) in a 940 bed tertiary care and referral university hospital were used for the study. Permanent and temporary nursing assistants and nurses of each unit were eligible for the study. Accordingly, if a worker refused to participate, an alternative person was enrolled. Each participant arrived at the unit by 7am and were randomly assigned opaque sealed envelopes for standard handwashing with a medicated soap (chlor- hexidine gluconate 4%; Hibiscrub, Zeneca Pharma)13 or handrubbing with a waterless alcohol based solution (45% 2-propanol, 30% 1-propanol, 0.2% mecetronium ethyl sulphate, average 3-5 ml; Sterillium, Bode Chemie, Hamburg, Germany)....