Comprehensive bactericidal activity of an ethanol-based hand gel in 15 seconds
2008
Ethanol-Based Hand Gel Effectiveness in 15 Seconds
publication
Evidence: high
Author Information
Author(s): Günter Kampf, Angela Hollingsworth
Primary Institution: Bode Chemie GmbH & Co. KG
Hypothesis
Can an ethanol-based hand gel effectively kill bacteria in just 15 seconds?
Conclusion
The ethanol-based hand gel was found to have a broad spectrum of bactericidal activity in only 15 seconds.
Supporting Evidence
- The hand gel reduced all tested bacteria by more than 5 log10 steps within 15 seconds.
- The study included both ATCC strains and clinical isolates.
- The gel was effective against emerging bacterial pathogens.
Takeaway
Using a special hand gel with 85% alcohol can kill germs on your hands in just 15 seconds, which is faster than the usual 30 seconds.
Methodology
The study evaluated the bactericidal activity of an ethanol-based hand gel against various bacteria in a time-kill test.
Limitations
The study did not assess the effectiveness against bacterial spores.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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