Can a Hand Sanitizer (alcohol gel) Substitute for Hand Washing?
The majority of alcohol-based sanitizers in the United States contain ethanol or isopropanol or a combination of these two products. Most brands also contain a moisturizer to minimize irritation to the skin. Alcohol works immediately and effectively to kill bacteria and most viruses. The antimicrobial activity of alcohol is its ability to change proteins in microorganisms. Proteins and fats on soiled hands will decrease the effectiveness of alcohol as a sanitizer. Alcohol solutions containing 60-95% alcohol are the most effective. Higher concentrations are less potent, because proteins are not denatured easily without water. Alcohol gels work by stripping away the outer layer of oil on the skin, thereby destroying any “transient” microorganisms present on the surface of the hands. After use, re-growth of bacteria on the skin tends to occur slowly, thereby effectively keeping “residual” micro-flora that reside in deeper layers of skin from coming to the surface. To be most effective, a
