Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-g8jcs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T04:50:51.419Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Using Alcohol for Hand Antisepsis: Dispelling Old Myths

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

John M. Boyce*
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, Hospital of Saint Raphael, New Haven, Connecticut
*
Division of Infectious Diseases, Hospital of Saint Raphael, 1450 Chapel St, New Haven, CT 06511
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Image of the first page of this content. For PDF version, please use the ‘Save PDF’ preceeding this image.'
Type
Editorial
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2000

References

1. Price, PB. Ethyl alcohol as a germicide. Arch Surg 1939;38:528542.Google Scholar
2. Harrington, C, Walker, H. The germicidal action of alcohol. Boston Medical and Surgical Journal 1903;148:548552.Google Scholar
3. Grant, DH. The antiseptic and bactericidal properties of isopropyl alcohol. Am J Med Sci 1923;166:261265.Google Scholar
4. Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry. New and Nonofficial Remedies. Isopropyl alcohol. JAMA 1935;105:16831684.Google Scholar
5. Coppage, CM. Handwashing in Patient Care. Washington, DC: United States Public Health Service; 1961.Google Scholar
6. Walter, CW. Disinfection of hands. Am J Surg 1965;109:691693.Google Scholar
7. Dineen, P, Hildick-Smith, G. Antiseptic care of the hands. In: Maibach, HI, Hildick-Smith, G, eds. Skin Bacteria and Their Role in Infection. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 1965:291309.Google Scholar
8. Berman, RE, Knight, RA. Evaluation of hand antisepsis. Arch Environ Health 1969;18:781783.Google Scholar
9. Ayliffe, GAJ, Babb, JR, Quoraishi, AH. A test for “hygienic” hand disinfection. J Clin Pathol 1978;31:923928.Google Scholar
10. Ojajarvi, J. Effectiveness of hand washing and disinfection methods in removing transient bacteria after patient nursing. J Hyg (Camb) 1980;85:193203.Google Scholar
11. Rotter, ML. Hygienic hand disinfection. Infect Control 1984;1:1822.Google Scholar
12. Larson, EL, Eke, PI, Laughon, BE. Efficacy of alcohol-based hand rinses under frequent-use conditions. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 1986;30:542544.Google Scholar
13. Larson, EL, Eke, PI, Wilder, MP, Laughon, BE. Quantity of soap as a variable in handwashing. Infect Control 1987;8:371375.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14. Ayliffe, GAJ, Babb, JR, Davies, JG, Lilly, HA. Hand disinfection: a comparison of various agents in laboratory and ward studies. J Hosp Infect 1988;11:226243.Google Scholar
15. Zaragoza, M, Salles, M, Gomez, J, Bayas, JM, Trilla A Handwashing with soap or alcoholic solutions? A randomized clinical trial of its effectiveness. Am J Infect Control 1999;27:258261.Google Scholar
16. Rotter, M. Hand washing and hand disinfection. In: Mayhall, CG, ed. Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control. Philadelphia, PA Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 1999:13391355.Google Scholar
17. Bernard, E, Knight, RA. Evaluation of hand antisepsis. Arch Environ Health 1969;18:781783.Google Scholar
18. Gravens, DL, Butcher, HR Jr., Ballinger, WF, Dewar, NE. Septisol antiseptic foam for hands of operating room personnel: an effective antibacterial agent. Surgery 1973;73:360367.Google Scholar
19. Lowbury, EJL, Lilly, HA, Ayliffe, GAJ. Preoperative disinfection of surgeon's hands: use of alcoholic solutions and effects of gloves on skin flora. BMJ 1974;4:369372.Google Scholar
20. Larson, EL, Butz, AM, Gullette, DL, Laughon BA Alcohol for surgical scrubbing? Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1990;11:139143.Google Scholar
21. Ehrenkranz, NJ, Alfonso, BC. Failure of bland soap handwash to prevent hand transfer of patient bacteria to urethral catheters. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1991;12:654662.Google Scholar
22. Larson, EL, Morton, HE. Alcohols. In: Block, SS, ed. Disinfection, Sterilization and Preservation. Philadelphia, PA: Lea & Febiger; 1991:191203.Google Scholar
23. Wade, JJ, Desai, N, Casewell, MW. Hygienic hand disinfection for the removal of epidemic vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium and gentamicin-resistant Enterobacter cloacae . J Hosp Infect 1991;18:211218.Google Scholar
24. Kampf, G, Hofer, M, Wendt, C. Efficacy of hand disinfectants against vancomycin-resistant enterococci in vitro. J Hosp Infect 1999;42:143150.Google Scholar
25. Kampf, G, Jarosch, R, Ruden, H. Limited effectiveness of chlorhexidine based hand disinfectants against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). J Hosp Infect 1998;38:297303.Google Scholar
26. Steere, AC, Mallison, GF. Handwashing practices for the prevention of nosocomial infections. Ann Intern Med 1975;83:683690.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
27. Ojajarvi, J, Makela, P, Rantasalo, I. Failure of hand disinfection with frequent hand washing: a need for prolonged field studies. J Hyg 1977;79:107119.Google Scholar
28. Morrison, AJ Jr, Gratz, J, Cabezudo, I, Wenzel, RP. The efficacy of several new handwashing agents for removing non-transient bacterial flora from hands. Infect Control 1986;7:268272.Google Scholar
29. Ojajarvi, J. Handwashing in Finland. J Hosp Infect 1991;18:3540.Google Scholar
30. Newman, JL, Seitz, JC. Intermittent use of an antimicrobial hand gel for reducing soap-induced irritation of health care personnel. Am J Infect Control 1990;18:194200.Google Scholar
31. Rotter, ML, Koller, W, Neumann, R. The influence of cosmetic additives on the acceptability of alcohol-based hand disinfectants. J Hosp Infect 1991;18(suppl B):5763.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
32. Boyce, JM, Kelliher, S, Vallande, N. Skin irritation and dryness associated with two hand-hygiene regimens: soap-and-water hand washing versus hand antisepsis with an alcoholic hand gel. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2000;21:442448.Google Scholar
33. Simion, FA, Rhein, LD, Morrison, BM Jr, Scala, DD, Salko, DM, Kligman, AM, et al. Self-perceived sensory responses to soap and synthetic detergent bars correlate with clinical signs of irritation. J Am Acad Dermatol 1995;32:205211.Google Scholar
34. Ollmar, S, Nyren, M, Nicander, I, Lemtestam, L. Electrical impedance compared with other non-invasive bioengineering techniques and visual scoring for detection in irritation in human skin. Br J Dermatol 1994;130:2936.Google Scholar
35. Wilhelm, K-P, Freitag, G, Wolff, HH. Surfactant-induced skin irritation and skin repair: evaluation of a cumulative human irritation model by noninvasive techniques. J Am Acad Dermatol 1994;31:981987.Google Scholar
36. Wilhelm, K-P, Cua, AB, Wolff, HH, Maibach, HI. Surfactant-induced stratum corneum hydration in vivo: prediction of the irritation potential of anionic surfactants. J Invest Dermatol 1993;101:310315.Google Scholar
37. Nicander, I, Ollmar, S, Lundh Rozell, B, Eek, A, Emtestam, L. Electrical impedance measured to five skin depths in mild irritant dermatitis induced by sodium lauryl sulphate. Br J Dermatol 1995;132:718724.Google Scholar
38. Voss, A, Widmer, AF. No time for handwashing!? Handwashing versus alcoholic rub: can we afford 100% compliance? Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1997;18:205208.Google Scholar
39. Larson, E, Killien, M. Factors influencing handwashing behavior of patient care personnel. Am J Infect Control 1982;10:9399.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
40. Zimakoff, J, Kjelsberg, AB, Larsen, SO, Holstein, B. A multicenter questionnaire investigation of attitudes toward hand hygiene, assessed by the staff in fifteen hospitals in Denmark and Norway. Am J Infect Control 1992;20:5864.Google Scholar
41. Pittet, D, Mourouga, P, Perneger, TV, members of the Infection Control Program. Compliance with handwashing in a teaching hospital. Ann Intern Med 1999;130:126130.Google Scholar
42. Pittet, D, Sauvan, V, Perneger, TV, and members of the Infection Control Program. Improving compliance with hand hygiene in hospital. In: Program of the Ninth Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. April 18-20, 1999; San Francisco, CA Abstract 77.Google Scholar
43. Bischoff, WE, Reynolds, TM, Sessler, CN, Edmond, MB, Wenzel, RP. Handwashing compliance by health care workers. Arch Intern Med 2000;160:10171021.Google Scholar
44. Larson, EL, APIC Guidelines Committee. APIC guideline for handwashing and hand antisepsis in health care settings. Am J Infect Control 1995;23:251269.Google Scholar
45. Mackintosh, CA, Hoffman, PN. An extended model for transfer of microorganisms via the hands: differences between organisms and the effect of alcohol disinfection. J Hyg 1984;92:345355.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
46. Taylor, LJ. An evaluation of handwashing techniques—1. Nursing Times 1978;5455.Google Scholar
47. Boyce, JM. Antiseptic techology: access, affordability and acceptance. Presented at the 4th Decennial International Conference on Nosocomial and Healthcare-Associated Infections; March 5-9, 2000; Atlanta, GA.Google Scholar