USABILITY OF 3 ALCOHOLS FOR A STANDARD DISINFECTION METHOD TO BE EMPLOYED FOR EVALUATION OF PROCEDURES FOR HYGIENIC DISINFECTION OF HANDS

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 164  (5-6) , 428-438
Abstract
Following a former suggestion always to evaluate the efficacy of procedures for hygienic disinfection of hands in comparison with the results of a certain standard disinfection method, ethanol, iso- and n-propanol were tested in various concentrations and for various times of action on their usability in such a standard method. The disinfecting power was dependent upon the alcohol (ethanol < iso-propanol < n-propanol), the concentration ethanol: 60 < 70 < 80% ml/ml, iso-propanol: 50 < 60 < 70, n-propanol: 40 < 50 < 60 = 70) and the time of action (0.5 < 1 < 2 min). n-Propanol was the fastest acting disinfectant. As a standard disinfection method, iso-propanol (60% ml/ml) being used for 1 min, was proposed. The following results that were also obtained in former investigations could be confirmed: there is no systematic difference between the release of test-bacteria from the fingertips of right and left hands of test-persons and the efficacy of procedures for hygienic disinfection of hands influenced by the test-persons. This factor may be eliminated by using the same test-persons for both the disinfection procedure under investigation and the standard method. The results of both may be related to each other and the efficacy of the former may be evaluated in comparison to the latter.

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