THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DIFFERENT HAND SANITIZER ON SOME SELECTED BACTERIA

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DIFFERENT HAND SANITIZER ON SOME SELECTED BACTERIA

ABSTRACT

Hand sanitizer is formulated and used to reduce bacterial load on the skin but there have been no previous studies on the effectiveness of this product. In this study, the antibacterial activity of hand sanitizers was evaluated against some common hand wash like dettol, washing soap and methylated spirit. Hand sanitizer and methylated spirit inhibited all the micro organisms tested with highest and least zones of inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus (19mm) and Enterococcus faecalis, respectively. Soap also inhibited all the organisms tested except E. coli and Enterococcus faecalis (10mm). This high degree of inhibition displayed by hand sanitizer and methylated spirit is attributed to the presence of alcohol as their major constituent, because alcohol is said to kill about 99.9% of most bacteria. The results of this study shows that only hand sanitizer and methylated spirit has substantial or absolute effect on the test bacteria after contact. Therefore hand sanitizers should be used in hospital environment, institutions, banks, hotels and religious places so as to reduce the bacteria load on hand.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0       INTRODUCTION

Hospital and community-acquired infections are escalating and pose a serious public health problem worldwide. Hands are considered to be the primary route for transmitting microbes and infections to the individuals. Personal as well as hand hygiene is important to prevent many communicable diseases. The word “hygiene” is derived from the ancient Greek goddess “Hygeia” that means “goddess of healing.” The importance of hygiene is universally recognized and evidence-based. It is well known that hand hygiene is crucial to prevent and minimize healthcare-associated infections. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and many other health experts promote hand hygiene as the single most important measure in the prevention of hospital-acquired infections. Several studies have shown the importance of proper hand hygiene in reducing the incidence of nosocomial infections.

 It is estimated that at any one time, more than 1.4 million people worldwide are suffering from infections acquired in hospitals. These nosocomial infections are also, in most cases, the result of poor hand hygiene.

Hand washing and hand hygiene are terms that are often used interchangeably in the general public and among healthcare workers (HCWs). Hand hygiene is a means of making hands free of pathogens in particular either by using water always (accompanied by soap), hand rub or waterless sanitizers (Busari et al., 2012). Chemicals used in hand hygiene exhibit bactericidal or bacteriostatic properties depending on their concentrations.

Alcohol is used as the main antibacterial component of most waterless antiseptic agents due to its antimicrobial properties. Some alcohol-based waterless hand sanitizers (WHS) have been reported to kill up to 99.9% of organisms within 15seconds of application (Aiello and Larson, 2002). However, they do not possess residual antimicrobial activity due to their high volatility. Ethanol has the record of being the oldest skin disinfectant; it acts as a permeation enhancer when applied topically to human skin. However, it has been reported to induce irritation in addition to its carcinogenic properties (Lachenmeier, 2008). Hand sanitizer wipes are not effective when hands are visibly soiled or heavily contaminated. Hand sanitizers are well-adapted to the skin and work by stripping away the outer layer of oil on the skin and also remove the cutaneous micro flora (Axel et al., 2002). Hand washing and/or the use of hand sanitizer remains the major way of breaking transmission of infection. Different antimicrobial agents have been incorporated into WHS to increase its performance.WHS has been reported not only to reduce hand bacterial contamination but also enhance hand hygiene compliance among Health Care Workers (HCWs). Despite the widespread use of WHS in Nigeria there is                dearth of information in the open scientific literature that could substantiate its use. Therefore, this study was aimed at investigating the antibacterial activity of commonly used WHSs in Nigeria on some selected common pathogenic bacteria.

1.2       STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM

Ordinary soap and detergent have been known to be adequate means of removing microorganisms and dirt from our hands and for general cleaning. But little did the public know that there are some bacteria and viruses which could prove stubborn to detergent and ordinary soap. The major problem is lack of orientation and awareness campaign to the general public on the effectiveness of hand sanitizers and mostly the wide application of hand sanitizers.

 1.3      Aim and Objectives

1.3.1    Aim

The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of hand sanitizers.

1.3.2    Objectives

1. To determine the effectiveness of hand sanitizers.
2. To show the various areas of application of hand sanitizer.

1.4       Justification of the study

This study will contribute to healthy living by giving orientation to students studying in the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa, and enlighten the general public on the effectiveness, areas of application and the advantage of hand sanitizer over ordinary soap and detergent. It will help to proffer solutions to the problems associated with the mode of transmission, prevention and control of some deadly diseases and infections. It will serve as a reference material for subsequent researches; the finding and recommendation will be a source of useful information to the people.

1.5       Scope of the study

This project work is concerned with the study of of the effectiveness of hand sanitizer and various areas in which they can be used.

 1.6      Limitation of the study

For a meaningful approach of the work of this nature, one has to put into consideration the limited time, materials and the poor general orientation and awareness campaign to the general public.