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Comparative Study
. 2020 Jun;105(2):213-215.
doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2020.03.014. Epub 2020 Mar 27.

Effects of hand disinfection with alcohol hand rub, ozonized water, or soap and water: time for reconsideration?

H J Breidablik  1 , D E Lysebo  2 , L Johannessen  3 , Å Skare  4 , J R Andersen  5 , O Kleiven  5
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Effects of hand disinfection with alcohol hand rub, ozonized water, or soap and water: time for reconsideration?

H J Breidablik et al. J Hosp Infect. 2020 Jun.

Abstract

The effect of alcohol hand rub was tested in eradicating Escherichia coli, and compared with hand wash using ozonized tap water or soap and water. Alcohol eradicated all bacteria in 10 out of 35 participants, but with an average (SD) of 2330 (4227) cfu/mL left after disinfection, whereas ozonized water removed all bacteria in 10 out of 55 participants, with an average of only 538 (801) cfu/mL left (P = 0.045). Soap washing was the most effective with total removal of bacteria in six out of 20 participants, with an average of 98 (139) cfu/mL (P = 0.048 and 0.018 versus ozonized water and alcohol, respectively).

Keywords: Disinfection; Hand hygiene; Healthcare workers; Infection control; Ozone.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Individual distribution of post-disinfection cfu/mL from both hands after disinfection with 85% alcohol (N = 55), ozonated 0.8 ppm tap water (N = 35) or soap (3 mL) and water (N = 20).
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References

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