viernes, 19 de julio de 2013

HAND SANITIZER USAGE

Cleanlink News 7/10/2013

Study Reveals Hand Sanitizer Efficacy



 


With some alcohol-based hand rubs a volume of 1.1 mL is recommended per application. But researchers say it is unknown whether such a small volume is sufficient to cover both hands or whether it fulfills current efficacy standards.

To address this question of efficacy, a study was done to determine hand coverage of three hand rubs — one gel based on 70 percent ethanol, one gel based on 85 percent ethanol, and one foam based on 70 percent ethanol. Each was applied with various volumes — all products: 1.1 mL, 2 mL, 2.4 mL, 1 push and 2 pushes; only foam product: 1.1 mL foam, 2 mL foam, 2.4 mL foam. 

Fifteen subjects applied each product, which were supplemented with a fluorescent dye, after which researchers used a UV light to determine the quality of coverage. The hands of 12 subjects per experiment were artificially contaminated with Serratia marcescens and the products applied as recommended (1.1 mL for the products based on 70 percent v/v ethanol; 2 mL for the product based on 85 percent w/w ethanol). 

Researchers presented their findings in a presentation titled "Lesser and lesser — the impact of small volumes in hand disinfection on quality of hand coverage and antimicrobial efficacy" at the International Conference on Prevention and Infection Control (ICPIC 2013). The results were:
"A volume < 2 mL yielded a high rate of incomplete coverage (76% - 87%), a volume ≥ 2 mL revealed better results (18% - 40%). There was a significant difference between the five volumes used with all hand rubs (p < 0.001; analysis of variance) but not between the three hand rubs themselves (p = 0.442). Application of 1.1 mL of the hand rubs based on 70% ethanol yielded a log10-reduction of 1.85 or 1.60 log10 (ASTM E 1174-06) and failed the US FDA efficacy requirement. Application of 2 mL of the hand rub based on 85% ethanol reduced the contamination by 2.06 log10 (ASTM E 1174-06) and fulfilled the US FDA efficacy requirement. Similar results were obtained according to ASTM E 2755-10."

In conclusion, the researches found that hand rubs based on 70 percent ethanol and recommended with a volume of 1.1 mL per application are not suitable to ensure complete coverage of both hands and do not fulfill the current ASTM efficacy standard requirements.

No hay comentarios:

Vistas de página en total

GREEN CHEMICALS

The Green Seal certification is granted by the organization with that name and has a great number of members contributing with the requirements to pass a raw material or a chemical product as "green". Generally for a material to be green, has to comply with a series of characteristics like: near neutral pH, low volatility, non combustible, non toxic to aquatic life, be biodegradable as measured by oxygen demand in accordance with the OECD definition.
Also the materials have to meet with toxicity and health requirements regarding inhalation, dermal and eye contact. There is also a specific list of materials that are prohibited or restricted from formulations, like ozone-depleting compounds and alkylphenol ethoxylates amongst others. Please go to http://www.greenseal.com/ for complete information on their requirements.
For information on current issues regarding green chemicals, see the blog from the Journalist Doris De Guzman, in the ICIS at: http://www.icis.com/blogs/green-chemicals/.
Certification is an important — and confusing — aspect of green cleaning. Third-party certification is available for products that meet standards set by Green Seal, EcoLogo, Energy Star, the Carpet & Rug Institute and others.
Manufacturers can also hire independent labs to determine whether a product is environmentally preferable and then place the manufacturer’s own eco-logo on the product; this is called self-certification. Finally, some manufacturers label a product with words like “sustainable,” “green,” or “earth friendly” without any third-party verification.
“The fact that there is not a single authoritative standard to go by adds to the confusion,” says Steven L. Mack M.Ed., director of buildings and grounds service for Ohio University, Athens, Ohio.
In www.happi.com of June 2008 edition, there is a report of Natural formulating markets that also emphasises the fact that registration of "green formulas" is very confused at present, due to lack of direction and unification of criteria and that some governmental instittion (in my opinion the EPA) should take part in this very important issue.