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Review
. 2021 Sep 29;11(3):408-417.
doi: 10.18683/germs.2021.1278. eCollection 2021 Sep.

Alcohol-based hand sanitizer - composition, proper use and precautions

Tushar Saha  1 , Prakash Khadka  2 , Shyamal C Das  2
Affiliations
Review

Alcohol-based hand sanitizer - composition, proper use and precautions

Tushar Saha et al. Germs. .

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers (ABHS) increased worldwide among the public as well as the health care workers in pursuit to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the causative virus of COVID-19. Hand hygiene is one of the primary preventive measures to prevent the spread of harmful germs. Although ABHS are effective hand hygiene products and help reduce the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms, appropriate use of such products is necessary to ensure the maximum killing of pathogens and to prevent hazards associated with ABHS. The effectiveness of ABHS against different microorganisms, including SARS-CoV-2 is also documented, but proper knowledge on hand hygiene techniques, selection of appropriate hand sanitizer product, and safe handling of ABHS are required to avoid their adverse effects such as allergies, skin irritation, lung injury, fire hazards, and toxicities. The effectiveness of ABHS is dependent on several factors including its appropriate usage, manufacturing methods, the choice of active agents, and the appropriateness of the agent on the target pathogen. This article highlights the importance of proper usage, handling, and appropriate ABHS selection for maximum efficacy against intended pathogens and safe use of ABHS. User awareness can help promote the appropriate usage of ABHS and prevent its hazards, which ultimately can help in preventing the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms.

Keywords: COVID-19; Sanitizer; alcohol-based hand sanitizer; hand hygiene.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: none to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Composition and dosage forms of alcohol-based hand sanitisers (ABHS)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematic representation of the bactericidal and viricidal effect of alcohol-based hand sanitisers (ABHS) by inactivation of lipid membrane lysis
Figure 3
Figure 3
Accidental hand sanitizer exposure by ingestion in children in the USA (January 2020 – May 2020)
Figure 4
Figure 4
Important information to check on the label of an ABHS product
Figure 5
Figure 5
Example of typical hazard pictograms present on ABHS labels
Figure 6
Figure 6
Hand hygiene technique with alcohol-based hand sanitisers (ABHS). Reproduced with permission from www.who.int (WHO guidelines on hand hygiene in health care (advanced draft): a summary.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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