IJCM_396A: Efficacy of Hand Sanitizer in Reducing Hand Bacterial Count as Compared to Liquid Soap Among Sanitation Workers in Mangalore: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: Hand hygiene of the people working plays an important role in the infection prevention practices of any Institute. Objective: To study the efficacy of liquid soap in comparison to alcohol based hand sanitizer in reducing the bacterial count following the handwash among sanitation workers. Methodology: This Randomized Controlled Trial was carried out in various facilities of Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, in 2017-18 The population comprised of sanitation workers attached to the college and study hospitals. They were divided equally across both the intervention arms. The method of EL Larson et al with minor modifications was used for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of microbial flora of the test subjects. Results: The baseline measurement of intervention 1 (liquid soap) was 2400 cfu and post post-intervention bacterial count for the same was 245cfu. The change score was 1825 cfu in the intervention- liquid soap. The baseline measurement of intervention arm 2 (hand sanitizer) was 1250 cfu and the post-intervention median bacterial count was 8.5 cfu. The change score was 1245 cfu in the intervention- hand sanitizer. The extent of decrease was higher in the hand sanitizer arm than hand washing arm however this difference was not high. Conclusion: The extent of decrease was higher in the hand sanitizer arm than hand washing arm however this difference was not significant and results nearly equal.