Rub hands up the right way
October 1st 2009

Effective hand hygiene remains at the centre of any infection control and prevention strategy.Now that Influenza A (H1N1), also known as swine flu, is predicted to make a resurgence, JohnsonDiversey advises alcohol based hand rubs

In healthcare, an alcohol based hand rub is the recommended practical and convenient alternative to frequent washing with soap and water.However, as with any aspect of cleaning and hygiene, all products are not the same.

Most alcohol hand rubs used in healthcare in the UK have ethanol or propanol as their main active ingredient. Both alcohols are effective in killing the viruses that cause Influenza A (H1N1) and other common hospital infections (and products from any reputable supplier will comply with the international EN1500 standard). But JohnsonDiversey believes that there are some significant advantages in choosing products containing propanol.

Ethanol based products have a flashpoint of 190C and are classified as highly flammable whereas the slightly larger molecular size of propanol means that these products have a flashpoint of 240C and are consequently classified as flammable.This seemingly small difference has major implications for storage and handling of products.The rules governing flammable materials, while strict, are not as stringent as those covering highly flammable products.The amount being stored, the storage facility, documentation and other issues are all affected which will be important to anyone who needs to stockpile large volumes to cope with Influenza A (H1N1).

Risky business? There are also other issues around ethanol based products says JohnsonDiversey. Recently, for example, there have been reports of hospital staff suffering serious hand burns after using ethanol based foam hand rubs shortly before they took a smoking break.There is also the small, but constant, risk of patients and visitors ingesting an alcohol based product in the misguided belief it is cheap alternative to drink. Propanol reduces these risks because of its lower flammability and because it is generally less palatable than ethanol.

These advantages are why JohnsonDiversey's SoftCare Med H5 has a mixture of propanols as its principal constituent.Manufacturers offer different product formulations; in general, the higher the alcohol content the better the rub will be at killing viruses and bacteria.Med H5, for example, contains a higher than average 70% alcohol. It also contains an above average amount of glycerol which acts as an emollient to help prevent skin problems associated with frequent cleansing with alcohol. Both factors can help promote user acceptance.

The choice of alcohol rub usually comes down to a rinse, foam or gel. JohnsonDiversey argues gels, such as Med H5, and foams are increasingly being specified over rinses because they are thicker which makes them easier to use and dispense more easily,with less likelihood of product falling on the floor.This reduces the risk of unsightly spotting on expensive floors and helps prevent the risk of slips in busy areas where staff, visitors and vulnerable patients are often present.

Three strokes and it's out It is generally easier to dispense and apply the correct amount of gel to comply with the EN1500 standard with three strokes of a pelican pump, says the company. Dispensing the correct amount of rinse or foam can be trickier and often requires more pump strokes which may be inconvenient and off-putting for users.

Most rubs will be available in a variety of pack formats including cartridges for wall mounted dispensers, pelican pump bottles for general locations and small carry bottles for personal use. The variety ensures the rubs can be located conveniently for easy access. It is important to ensure that the same product is used in each format to reduce confusion among users and support simple on-site promotion and awareness. JohnsonDiversey argues that the best personal carry bottles can be worn on a belt using a special clip and should ideally have a flip-top lid rather than pelican pump to prevent accidental dispensing that can lead to product wastage and spills onto clothing and floors.

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