| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3372345 | Journal of Hospital Infection | 2011 | 5 Pages |
SummaryThe World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended two hand-rub formulations for local production based on 80% ethanol or 75% isopropanol (both v/v). We have looked at their efficacy according to EN 12791. Twenty-six subjects treated their hands with the reference procedure (n-propanol, 60%) for 3 min or with one of the two formulations for 1.5, 3 or 5 min (Latin square design). Post-values (immediate effect) were taken from one hand, the other hand was gloved for 3 h. After the glove had been taken off, the second post-value was taken (3 h effect). The mean log10 reduction of each hand rub at all three application times was compared to Hodges and Lehmann’s reference procedure for non-inferiority. In the first block the reference procedure reduced bacterial load by 2.43 log10 (immediate effect) and 2.22 log10 (3 h effect). The efficacy of the ethanol-based formulation (e.g. immediate efficacy of 1.41 log10 at 5 min) was inferior to the reference procedure at all application times [lower 95% confidence interval (CI): less than −0.75]. In the second block the reference procedure reduced bacterial load by 2.72 log10 (immediate effect) and 2.26 log10 (3 h effect). The efficacy of the isopropanol-based formulation (e.g. immediate efficacy of 2.05 log10 at 5 min) was also inferior to the reference procedure at all application times (lower 95% CI: less than −0.75). Both WHO-recommended hand-rub formulations failed to meet the EN 12791 efficacy requirements for surgical hand disinfection within 5 min. A higher concentration of the active ingredients may improve the efficacy.
