Expansion of Hand Hygiene Compliance and Decreasing Counterfeiting of Sanitation Products in the Era of the COVID-19 through Diversification and Standardization of Alcohol-Based Gel and Wipes Hand Sanitizer

Abstract

The increasing cases of infection and the number of deaths triggered by COVID-19 make all prevention and treatment efforts urgent. Increased discipline to maintain hand hygiene must be sought immediately to break the chain of its spread. The availability of alcohol-based hand sanitizer products with various specifications is needed to ensure increased discipline in hand hygiene. This study carried out the diversification of alcohol-based hand sanitizers by varying the active ingredients and preparations. The effect of alcohol on the characteristics and anti-microbial activity of the gel and wipe hand sanitizer products was studied to obtain optimal benefits. The best hand sanitizer characteristics are shown in gel formulation 3 with bioethanol as an active ingredient, which has pH 5.88, good homogeneity, density 0.95 g/cm3, viscosity 2783.69 cPs, dispersibility 5.16 cm, adhesion 3.21 s, and dry time 29.27 s. While the best formulation of wipe hand sanitizer produced by formulation 3 made from bioethanol has a pH of 6.14, good homogeneity, density 0.86 g/cm3, viscosity 2.812 cPs, spreadability 15.34 cm, adhesion 1.92 s, and dry time 18.20 s. The biological activity test results of the two best hand sanitizer formulations, gel, and wipe preparations, showed good anti-microbial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella. In addition, the two preparations of hand sanitizer products were also detected to have good stability characteristics up to 4 weeks of storage time.