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Comparison of 3 Alcohol Gels and 70% Ethyl Alcohol for Hand Hygiene

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Mirian Nicéa Zarpellon
Affiliation:
Departments of Clinical Analyses, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná Brazil
Vanessa Sarto Soares
Affiliation:
Medicine, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná Brazil
Natal Rodrigo Albrecht
Affiliation:
Medicine, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná Brazil
Douglas Ricardo da Silva Bergamasco
Affiliation:
Medicine, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná Brazil
Lourdes Botelho Garcia
Affiliation:
Departments of Clinical Analyses, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná Brazil
Celso Luiz Cardoso*
Affiliation:
Departments of Clinical Analyses, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná Brazil
*
Laboratório de Microbiologia, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Avenida Colombo 5790, CEP 87020-900 Maringá, Paraná, Brazil (clcardoso@wnet.com.br)

Abstract

In a laboratory study, we demonstrated that 3 alcohol-based hand gels, commercially available in Brazil, were as effective as the traditional 70% ethyl alcohol (by weight) in removing clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Serratia marcescens, and Candida albicans from heavily contaminated hands of human volunteers.

Type
Concise Communication
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2008

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