Hand Disinfection Research Articles

Exploration of factors associated with mask-wearing and hand disinfection in Japan after the coronavirus disease outbreak: A longitudinal study

BackgroundTo identify factors associated with mask-wearing and hand disinfection before and after the coronavirus disease outbreak. Study designLongitudinal study. MethodsWe surveyed Japanese people aged ≥18 years from wave 1 (January 2020) to wave 23 (January 2023). We analyzed the associations between individual characteristics, including the frequency of exposure to information and mask-wearing or hand disinfection before the outbreak and during wave 1, of 666 participants who fully responded until wave 9 (September 2020). Individual characteristics associated with the new implementation of mask-wearing or hand disinfection until wave 9 were analyzed for 217 and 413 participants, respectively, who had not performed preventive behavior during wave 1. We also analyzed the associations of individual characteristics with the new implementation of preventive behaviors until wave 23. ResultsAmong the individual characteristics, the frequency of exposure to information was significantly associated with mask-wearing and hand disinfection, but the associated information types differed pre- and post-outbreak. Medical information exposure was associated with the implementation of mask-wearing and hand disinfection before the outbreak, and these practices before the outbreak were strongly associated with mask-wearing and hand disinfection immediately after the outbreak. Meanwhile, exposure to information obtained from acquaintances was associated with the new implementation afterward. Exposure to information from mass media was associated with the new implementation of hand disinfection. ConclusionsThis study provides insights for developing risk communication strategies to disseminate information and promote the timely use of these sources to enhance preventive behavior.

Atmospheric Plasma Sources as Potential Tools for Surface and Hand Disinfection

Good hand hygiene has proven to be essential in reducing the uncontrolled spread of human pathogens. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) may provide an alternative to disinfecting hands with ethanol-based handrubs when handwashing facilities are unavailable. CAP can be safely applied to the skin if the energy is well controlled. In this study, radio frequency (RF) and direct current (DC) plasma sources were built with a pin-to-mesh electrodes configuration inside a fused silica tube with a 5 mm inner diameter. Microbiological assays based on EN 13697:2015+A1:2019 using Escherichia coli DSM 682 or Staphylococcus epidermidis DSM 20044 were used to examine the antimicrobial effect of various plasma conditions. Metal and silicone disks that model skin were used as inoculation matrices. The prototype air RF CAP achieved significant disinfection in the MHz range on stainless steel and silicone substrates. This is equivalent to half the performance of direct current CAP, which is only effective on conductive substrates. Using only electricity and air CAP could, with further optimization to increase its efficacy, replace or complement current hand disinfection methods, and mitigate the economic burden of public health crises in the future.

Bacterial contamination of healthcare workers’ mobile phones in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundMobile phones are potential reservoirs for pathogens and sources of healthcare-associated infections. More microbes can be found on a mobile phone than on a man's lavatory seat, the sole of a shoe, or a door handle. When examining patients, frequent handling of mobile phones can spread bacteria. Nevertheless, evidence of bacterial contamination of mobile phones used by healthcare workers in Africa was inconclusive. Thus, this meta-analysis and systematic review was conducted to estimate the pooled prevalence of bacterial contamination of mobile phones used by healthcare workers and the most frequent bacterial isolates in Africa.MethodsWe systematically retrieved relevant studies using PubMed/MEDLINE, POPLINE, HINARI, Science Direct, Cochrane Library databases, and Google Scholar from July 1, 2023 to August 08, 2023. We included observational studies that reported the prevalence of bacterial contamination of mobile phones among healthcare workers. The DerSimonian–random Laird's effect model was used to calculate effect estimates for the pooled prevalence of bacterial contamination in mobile phones and a 95% confidence interval (CI).ResultsAmong 4544 retrieved studies, 26 eligible articles with a total sample size of 2,887 study participants were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of mobile phone bacterial contamination among healthcare workers was 84.5% (95% CI 81.7, 87.4%; I2 = 97.9%, p value < 0.001). The most dominant type of bacteria isolated in this review was coagulase-negative staphylococci (CONS) which accounted for 44.0% of the pooled contamination rate of mobile phones used by healthcare workers, followed by Staphylococcus aureus (31.3%), and Escherichia coli (10.7%).ConclusionsIn this review, the contamination of mobile phones used by HCWs with various bacterial isolates was shown to be considerable. The most prevalent bacteria isolates were coagulase-negative staphylococci, Staphylococcus aurous, and Escherichia coli. The prevalence of bacterial contamination in mobile phones varies by country and sub-region. Hence, healthcare planners and policymakers should establish norms to manage healthcare workers' hand hygiene and disinfection after using mobile phones.

Don't Forget to Disinfect: Understanding Technology-Supported Hand Disinfection Stations

The global COVID-19 pandemic created a constant need for hand disinfection. While it is still essential, disinfection use is declining with the decrease in perceived personal risk (e.g., as a result of vaccination). Thus this work explores using different visual cues to act as reminders for hand disinfection. We investigated different public display designs using (1) paper-based only, adding (2) screen-based, or (3) projection-based visual cues. To gain insights into these designs, we conducted semi-structured interviews with passersby (N=30). Our results show that the screen- and projection-based conditions were perceived as more engaging. Furthermore, we conclude that the disinfection process consists of four steps that can be supported: drawing attention to the disinfection station, supporting the (subconscious) understanding of the interaction, motivating hand disinfection, and performing the action itself. We conclude with design implications for technology-supported disinfection.

Evaluating the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare workers regarding high-risk nosocomial infections: A global cross-sectional study.

Healthcare workers (HCWs) play a vital role in delivering care and are frequently exposed to the risk of acquiring infections within the hospital setting. Around 15% of hospitalized patients suffer from these infections globally. However, the role and awareness of HCWs in the transmission of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) or nosocomial infections is still unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) toward high-risk microbial infections among HCWs on a global scale to identify measures to address this problem. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted between 2022 and 2023, with HCWs selected as the study population. Data concerning KAP were collected through a self-administered online survey questionnaire, using a nonprobability convenience sampling method. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis were used to analyze the data. A total of 743 HCWs from various countries participated in the study, with the majority of respondents being doctors (64.9%). Data were mainly obtained from Saudi Arabia (26.78%), Iraq (25.84%), India (15.7%), the United States of America (15.2%), and Africa (Sudan, Nigeria) (13.98%). The frequency of good KAP scores among physicians (KAP: 82.5, 80.66, and 70.5), nurses (KAP: 74.1, 73.07, and 88.7), medical practitioners (KAP: 87.2, 77.58, and 75.1), and technicians (KAP: 76.1, 74.38, and 89.6) were obtained as mentioned. With respect to experience, HCWs showed good KAP scores in 1-5 years (KAP: 82.4, 83.3, and 74.1), 5-10 years (KAP: 80.6, 74.54, 83), 10-20 years (KAP: 74.7, 79.1, and 82.7), and >20 years (KAP: 84.6, 78.8, and 82.8) categories. This study suggests that HCWs have good KAP regarding infection prevention, but there is still room for improvement. Educational seminars and awareness programs can provide better adherence to barrier protection measures such as hand washing, use of gloves, and hand disinfection.

Prevalence of pathogenic organism associated with hospital environment (a case study of Ile-Abiye hospital, Ado-Ekiti)

Microbial contamination of the hospital environment has continued to increase the prevalence of nosocomial infections. This study assessed the level of microbial contamination of hospital environment: a case study of Ile-Abiye Hospital, Ado-Ekiti. Swab plate method was used to collect samples from bed surfaces. Collected samples were analyzed for the presence of bacteria using standard procedures. The entire swab specimens had bacterial growth. The bacteria isolates were, Staphylococcus aureus 12(62.5%), Escherichia coli 5(12.5%), Staphylococcus epidermidis 3(7.5%), and Lactobacillus fermenti 3(7.5%), Bacillus subtilis 2(5%), Bacillus cereus 1(2.5%), and Micrococcus luteus 1(2.5%). The results indicated that Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were the major species contaminating the hospital floor. Contamination of hospital floor by pathogenic bacteria is a real danger to public health. The concept of environmental bacterial reservoir is a reality that requires strict compliance with current guidelines and recommendations for hand hygiene, cleaning, and disinfection of door handles in hospitals.

Unveiling the influence of COVID-19 on the online retail market: A comprehensive exploration

The global economy has experienced significant disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, profoundly impacting production and consumption patterns. This paper examines the effect of the pandemic on consumer goods prices, focusing on a sample of hand sanitizers, soap, disinfectants, and baking yeasts. The selection of these products was motivated by multiple and comprehensive criteria, where we considered various factors such as changes in consumption patterns during the pandemic, the relevance of these products in household consumption, consumer behavior, availability of historical price data, their significance in daily domestic life, and their utility in the prevention of the disease. Employing a time-series analysis, the study investigates the relationship between product prices and the S&P 500 index, as well as the presence of structural breaks in the time series. The results reveal a significant correlation between all prices in the sample and the S&P 500 index, indicating the index's efficacy as an indicator of the overall economic state. Moreover, the study identifies a single structural break in each price time series, coinciding with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, hand sanitizers, soap, and disinfectants exhibit particularly substantial price jumps near the time of the break. These findings offer crucial insights into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on consumer prices, which can guide policy decisions aimed at mitigating the pandemic's economic consequences.

Virucidal activity of oral, hand, and surface disinfectants against respiratory syncytial virus

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is known as a major cause of respiratory tract infection in adults and children. Human to human transmission occurs via droplets as well as direct and indirect contact (e.g. contaminated surfaces or hands of medical staff). Therefore, applicable hygiene measures and knowledge about viral inactivation are of utmost importance. Here, we evaluated the virucidal efficacy of oral rinses specifically designed for children, WHO-recommended hand rub formulations and ethanol as well as 2-propanol against RSV in a quantitative suspension test (EN14476). Furthermore, we assessed the stability of RSV on stainless steel discs and investigated its inactivation by different surface disinfectants (EN16777). We observed that all tested oral rinses except one reduced infectious viral titres to the lower limit of quantification. The two WHO-recommended hand rub formulations as well as 30% ethanol and 2-propanol completely abolished the detection of infectious virus. Infectious RSV could still be recovered after several days on stainless steel discs. However, RSV could efficiently be inactivated by all tested surface disinfectants based on alcohol, aldehyde, or hydrogen peroxide. In conclusion, oral rinses, all tested hand rub formulations as well as surface inactivation reagents were sufficient for RSV inactivation in vitro.

Prophets Without Honor: From Galileo to Looney

There are many ideas in the annals of science that were once ridiculed because they deviated from established “truth,” only to be rehabilitated with the passage of time. Among them: Galileo (1564-1642), punished by the Pope with house arrest for challenging the Ptolemaic theory -- a theory taught by Aristotle -- that the sun revolves around the earth; Alfred Wegener (1880-1930), who developed the theory of the movement of continental drift (later known as tectonic plates), to explain why matching prehistoric fossils could be found in places such as Europe and South America, with no known land bridges connecting them; J. Harlan Bretz (1882-1981) who showed that only cataclysmic floods could explain erosion and land formation in the Pacific Northwest, rather than the then-current theory of gradualism and “uniformitarianism.” Senior scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey in 1927 humiliated him in public; Ignaz Semelweiss (1818-1865) observed that the incidence of “childbed fever” could be significantly reduced by the use of hand disinfectant in obstetrical clinics, c. 1847. He could not provide a medical explanation beyond his observation that maternal mortality was reduced to only 1% when hand washing with disinfectant was used. He was ridiculed for going against received medical practice and committed to an asylum by colleagues after supposedly suffering a nervous breakdown. There he was beaten by guards and died from an untreated gangrenous wound. It was not until Louis Pasteur confirmed the germ theory of disease and Joseph Lister showed the benefits of surgery using hygienic methods that his life-saving observations were credited. One can add to this list the name of J. Thomas Looney (1870-1944) who began researching the question of whether the name “Shakespeare” could be a pseudonym and, if so, who the author really was. Basing his work on attributes in the plays that might match little-known poets of the Elizabethan era with the real author, he identified Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford, as the man responsible in his book Shakespeare Identified published in 1920. Criticized almost immediately, his research has nevertheless stood the test of time, with more and more people worldwide now arguing for Oxford in a debate that continues unabated. This paper looks at these personal histories as well as the psychology of why “authorities” feel a need to immediately reject challenges to established positions.

Use of Hand Sanitizers in COVID-19 Prevention: A Comprehensive Overview

The pandemic outbreak of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has drastically changed the picture of global healthcare. With the rapid emergence of novel variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) that rendered the currently available therapeutic and diagnostic approaches inefficient in containing the transmission of infection, it becomes important to focus on strategies to break the transmission chain. The major approach to contain the spread of infection is the promotion of adequate hand hygiene practices in public as hands are an important source of pathogenic microbes. Hand hygiene is an important part of everyday life for maintaining a healthy and disease-free lifestyle. With the outbreak of the pandemic, people are now understanding the importance of hand hygiene practices. The global market of hand sanitizers has experienced rapid growth and high demand. This review aims to discuss the use of sanitizers during the period of COVID-19 and their role in controlling the transmission of infection. It also focuses on global market trends, the advancements in the development of sanitizer formulations, and the limitations of commercial sanitizers. Therefore, the formulation of an effective hand disinfectant is crucial for preventing future pandemic outbreaks.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of hospital infection prevention and control based on the SMART principle.

Hospital infection not only increases patient suffering and mortality, but also causes huge economic losses. It is urgent to take effective measures to improve the situation of hospital infection and focus on hand hygiene and disinfection. The SMART principle is to follow the principles of specificity, measurability, attainability, relevance, and timeliness when setting goals. This study aims to use the SMART principle in the prevention and control of hospital infection, to take a series of measures on the hospital infection such as hand hygiene, and to evaluate the implementation effect. This study is a retrospective study. From January to June 2020, the SMART principle was used to carry out intervention for infection prevention and control in the Xiangya International Medical Department, Central South University, and implement the infection prevention and control quality improvement plan. Using indicator data as targeting measurement standard, we established evaluation indicators for hospital infection prevention and control knowledge awareness and hand hygiene compliance rate as the process monitoring, surgical site infection rate and catheter-related urinary tract infection rate as the result monitoring. The evaluation indicators after intervention (July 2020 to June 2021) were compared with those before intervention (January 2019 to December 2019). Fifty-one medical staff working in the Xiangya International Medical Department were included. There were 12 doctors and 39 nurses, and 6 males and 45 females. The age ranged from 21 to 57 (30.2±7.1) years. After the intervention, the awareness of hospital infection prevention and control knowledge and hand hygiene compliance rate of medical staff were significantly higher than those before the intervention (both P<0.05), but there were no significant differences in surgical site infection rate and catheter-related urinary tract infection rate before and after intervention (both P>0.05). After the intervention, the awareness of hospital infection prevention and control knowledge and hand hygiene compliance rate of medical staff in the internal and surgical wards were higher than those before the intervention (all P<0.05). The awareness of hospital infection prevention and control knowledge of medical staff in surgical wards was low but improved significantly. The compliance rate of hand hygiene of medical staff in internal wards was high and improved significantly. After the intervention, the awareness of hospital infection prevention and control knowledge and hand hygiene compliance rate of male and female medical staff were higher than those before the intervention (all P<0.05), both of which were significantly higher in males than in females. After the intervention, the awareness of hospital infection prevention and control knowledge and hand hygiene compliance rate for medical staff aged less than 30 years old and 30 to 40 years old were higher than those before the intervention (all P<0.05). Medical staff aged 30 to 40 years had a low awareness of hospital infection prevention and control knowledge, but both indicators improved most significantly. After the intervention, the awareness of hospital infection prevention and control knowledge of doctors and nurses was increased (both P<0.05). The awareness of doctors improved more significantly, and the hand hygiene compliance rate of nurses improved (P<0.05). After the intervention, the awareness of hospital infection prevention and control knowledge and hand hygiene compliance rate of medical staff with primary and intermediate professional titles were higher than those before the intervention (all P<0.05), and the improvement was more significant for medical staff with intermediate professional titles. Based on the SMART principle management method, the implementation of quality improvement plans combined with various domestic and international evaluation standards for infection prevention and control can effectively improve the awareness of infection control knowledge and hand hygiene compliance rate of medical staff, strengthen the prevention and control of hospital infection, and further ensure the safety of patients.

Determinants of psychotherapists' attitudes to online psychotherapy.

Online psychotherapy is a form of work that is becoming more and more popular. Public health problems, such as COVID-19, forced mental health professionals and patients to incorporate new methodologies such as the use of electronic media and internet to provide follow-up, treatment and also supervision. The aim of this study was to investigate which factors shape the therapists' attitudes toward online psychotherapy during a pandemic taking into account: (1) attitudes toward the COVID-19 pandemic (fear of contagion, pandemic fatigue, etc.), (2) personal characteristics of the psychotherapists (age, gender, feeling of efficacy, anxiety, depression, etc.), and (3) characteristics of the psychotherapeutic practice (guideline procedure, client age group, professional experience, etc). Study participants were 177 psychotherapists from four European countries: Poland (n = 48), Germany (n = 44), Sweden (n = 49), and Portugal (n = 36). Data were collected by means of an individual online survey through the original questionnaire and the standardized scales: a modified version of the Attitudes toward Psychological Online Interventions Scale (APOI), Fear of Contagion by COVID-19 Scale (FCS COVID-19), Pandemic Fatigue Scale (PFS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Social Support Questionnaire (F-SozU K-14), and the Sense of Efficiency Test (SET). Determinants that impacted psychotherapists' attitudes toward online therapy were: COVID-19 belief in prevention-keeping distance and hand disinfection, pandemic behavioral fatigue, previous online therapy experience (including voice call), working with youth and adults. Our study showed that belief in the sense of prevention in the form of taking care of hand disinfection before the session, pandemic behavioral fatigue and experience in working with adults were significant predictors of negative attitudes of therapists toward online psychological interventions. On the other hand, belief in the sense of prevention in the form of keeping distance during the session had a positive effect on general attitudes toward therapy conducted via the internet. The online therapy boom during the COVID-19 pandemic has spawned a powerful tool for psychotherapists. More research in this area and training of psychotherapists are needed for online psychological interventions to become an effective therapy format that is accepted by patients and therapists alike.

Mesures d’hygiène pour les explorations fonctionnelles respiratoires (EFR) après la pandémie de COVID-19 – Résultats d’une enquête nationale auprès de 28 centres hospitaliers en 2023

During the COVID-19 pandemic, airborne transmission of lung disease was a cause for major concern, and scientific societies published strict hygiene guidelines for pulmonary function tests (PFT) and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). These guidelines led to a major decrease in patient access to PFT and CPET, and their relevance in the 2023 post-pandemic context may be called into question. Under the hypothesis that PFT/CPET expert centers have modified their practices in accordance with the applicable guidelines, a survey was conducted from the 8th through the 23rd of February 2023 in 28 French PFT/CPET hospital departments. An overwhelming majority of the centers (96%) did not limit indications for PFT/CPET, and requested neither a vaccination or recovery certificate (93%) nor a negative diagnostic test (89%). While the use by patients and caregivers of surgical masks and antimicrobial filters was unanimously adopted, only 36% of centers declared that FFP2/N95-filtering face masks were worn. Disinfection of caregivers' hands was carried out by 96%, and a majority of centers reported break time (75%) and disinfection of equipment surfaces (89%) between the testing of two patients. In conclusion: aside from a few modifications, the practices reported by PFT/CPET French expert centers in 2023 were close to those in force prior to the COVID-19 epidemic.

Stability and safety key factors of the oncolytic protoparvovirus H-1 from manufacturing to human application

The oncolytic rodent protoparvovirus H-1PV has been successfully used in phase I/II clinical trials to treat recurrent glioblastoma multiforme and pancreatic cancer. The present work focuses on the stability and environmental safety of the H-1PV drug product from production up to its use in patients. We identified hold-steps in manufacturing for up to 3 months and showed 7-years stability for the optimal product formulation. Stress testing via UV, temperature, and pH also determined that the drug product is stable. De- and rehydration for lyophilization simulation are possible without infectious virus loss. Furthermore, we prove in-use stability for 4 days at room temperature and show no virus adsorption to injection devices, guaranteeing the correct administration dose. Iodixanol in the formulation, resulting in high viscosity, protects H-1PV against UV and some disinfectants. Nonetheless, H-1PV is depleted with rapid heat deactivation, autoclavation, and nanofiltration. Assessment of chemical disinfectants that are currently recommended by the Robert Koch-Institute demonstrated that ethanol-based hand disinfectants are not effective; however, aldehyde-based disinfectants for surfaces and instruments demonstrate sufficient H-1PV deactivation in aqueous formulations by 4 to 6 log10. With these results, we could establish a specific hygiene plan for all involved facilities from manufacturing to patient application. Overall, using 48% Iodixanol in Visipaque/Ringer as a drug formulation stabilizes H-1PV infectivity over years and protects against virus loss from short-term UV, low pH, and temperature exposure.Key points• Optimal formulation of drug product protects the H-1PV protoparvovirus against UV, temperatures up to 50 °C, and low pH (> 1.25), stabilizing the virus during manufacturing, storage, transport, and application.• H-1PV is stable during in-use and does not adsorb to injection devices during patient administration.• Hygiene plan for H-1PV with physicochemical methods has been established.

Medical Students' and Radiology Technician Trainees' eHealth Literacy and Hygiene Awareness-Asynchronous and Synchronous Digital Hand Hygiene Training in a Single-Center Trial.

Next to the known nosocomial infections, the COVID-19 pandemic was an example for the need for the immediate implementation of functioning hygiene concepts and knowledge transfer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the self-assessment of ehealth literacy in terms of finding, using and critically evaluating health information and theoretical and practical hygiene awareness on a voluntary participation basis at the Jena University Hospital in 2022. The well-established and validated eHEALS and WHO questionnaire on hand hygiene (HH) knowledge for healthcare workers was completely filled by 204 participants (191 medical students; 13 healthcare trainees). In a second step, after the questionnaire, 77 participants completed additional asynchronous, digitally guided self-training using DesiCoach 2Go. In the end, a synchronous hand disinfection was carried out in the hospital using Visirub, by separating it into a group without (n = 191; with and without HH questionnaire) and a group with (n = 31; with HH questionnaire) previously completed self-training. For the eHL, the respondents tended to have a positive self-assessment of finding, using and critically evaluating health information. The voluntary participants of the practical hand disinfection who had received self-training were able to achieve significantly better results (p = 0.0047), resulting in fewer wetting gaps in a subsequent performance with Visirub than those who had not received digital self-training. The survey showed that healthcare-related participants belonging to the "digital native" generation have above-average knowledge on HH and profit by digitally guided self-training.

Childhood Poisoning During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

To determine changes caused by the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic by examining the children admitted to our hospital because of poisoning during the pandemic and comparing these with data from a study conducted in the pre-pandemic period. A retrospective examination was made of children who were admitted to our pediatric emergency department with poisoning between March 2020 and March 2022. Of the 82 (0.7%) patients admitted to the emergency department, 42 (51.2%) were girls, the mean age was 6.43 ± 5.62 years, and the majority of children (59.8%) were under 5 years of age. The poisonings were determined to be accidental in 85.4% of cases, 13.4% were suicide attempts, and 1.2% were iatrogenic. Poisonings occurred most frequently (97.6%) at home and most frequently (85.4%) by digestive tract. The most common causative agent (68%) was non-pharmacological agents. Caustic-corrosive substances were determined in 39% of cases, medical drugs in 32%, toxic gases in 11%, alcohol (hand sanitizers) in 8.5%, insecticide-pesticide in 6.1%, food in 1.2%, and animal bites in 1.2%. Compared to the study conducted in our hospital in 2013-2014, the difference in terms of factors causing poisoning was statistically significant (P < .001). Of the current study cases, 14 (17.1%) were followed up in the intensive care unit, and no mortality developed. The period of the COVID-19 pandemic was seen to cause an increase in poisoning rates with caustic-corrosive substances, alcohol (hand disinfectants), and toxic gases. Families should be made aware of this issue and take special precautions.

Inisiasi dan pengembangan produk handsanitizer pada center of excellence Fakultas Farmasi Universitas Hasanuddin sebagai upaya pengembangan usaha intelektual kampus

PPUPIK is a community service program for 3 years. The purpose of this activity is to produce the intellectual products from the Faculty of Pharmacy UNHAS, especially Hand sanitizer and Disinfectant products, so that the Center of Excellence of the Faculty of Pharmacy UNHAS (CoE-FFUH) would become an independent business unit that able to support UNHAS' role as PTNBH. The specific target for this first year is the initiation of the development of a production unit of hand sanitizer and disinfectant products at CoE-FFUH. The initiation consists of the determination of documents for the production process, determination of product packaging material and designs, and also pilot-scale production for limited sales. As for the following year, hopefully, this product will be able to obtain a distribution permit for household health supplies (PKRT) so that the commercialization of licensed products can be carried out legally and able to produce more types of PKRT products.

Hand hygiene compliance in the intensive care unit: Hand hygiene and glove changes

Hand disinfection (HD) is known to be the single most effective prevention measure to avoid nosocomial infections, but the compliance rate (CR) remains low. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of HD opportunities and the CR during the treatment of critically ill patients. One special focus was on glove usage to determine whether gloves were substituted for HD. This is a single-blinded direct observation of employees of an.ßintensive care unit. One specially educated observer recorded all hand hygiene indications over a period of 21 8-hour shifts as well as performed HD and study of glove use behavior. Over a period of 168.ßhours, 2,036 HDs should be performed during the care for 1 intensive care unit patient. In total, only 690 HDs occurred, resulting in a CR of 33.9%. With regard to the nurses, there was an HD opportunity around the clock every 6.ßminutes on average. About 17% of the total working time would have to be applied for 100% correct hand hygiene application. Donning or changing of gloves took place in 38.2% of all indications for HD. Our results show that HD opportunities occur in high frequency during the treatment of critically ill patients. The compliance with HD remains too low, even when a 100% CR seems to be unachievable. Improvements should focus on aseptic procedures, combining the lowest CR with the highest procedural risk for the patient. The Healthcare Personal (HCP) uses gloves when an HD opportunity occurs. Implementing glove disinfection strategies in daily routine might help optimize patient care.

Hand hygiene: Semmelweis' lesson through Céline's pen.

Louis Ferdinand Auguste Destouches, before adopting the pen name of Louis-Ferdinand Céline, was a medical student who wrote his dissertation (published as a book in 1952)1 on the life and the work of Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis. Semmelweis is, in the medical community, famous for being the pioneer of antiseptic procedures, but his name is also associated to a behavioral phenomenon: the tendency to reject new evidence or knowledge which contradicts with established norms and beliefs.2,3 In 1847, Semmelweis discovered that hand disinfection could drastically reduce the incidence of ‘puerperal fever’ and therefore post-partum mortality. Unfortunately, years before the advent of microbiology, Semmelweis’s theory was supported only by the observation of events, and he could not give tangible proof regarding the pathophysiological mechanism. He was not believed by the great majority of his peers, was ostracized by the international medical community and, at the end, lost his mind. Hand disinfection has started to become common practice only many years after his death, around the end of the 19th Century, after the works of Lister and Pasteur, which were also initially viewed with skepticism by obstetricians and surgeons.4,5

Human glabrous skin contains crystallized urea dendriform structures in the stratum corneum which affect the hydration levels.

Glabrous skin is hair-free skin with a high density of sweat glands, which is found on the palms, and soles of mammalians, covered with a thick stratum corneum. Dry hands are often an occupational problem which deserves attention from dermatologists. Urea is found in the skin as a component of the natural moisturizing factor and of sweat. We report the discovery of dendrimer structures of crystalized urea in the stratum corneum of palmar glabrous skin using laser scanning microscopy. The chemical and structural nature of the urea crystallites was investigated in vivo by non-invasive techniques. The relation of crystallization to skin hydration was explored. We analysed the index finger, small finger and tenar palmar area of 18 study participants using non-invasive optical methods, such as laser scanning microscopy, Raman microspectroscopy and two-photon tomography. Skin hydration was measured using corneometry. Crystalline urea structures were found in the stratum corneum of about two-thirds of the participants. Participants with a higher density of crystallized urea structures exhibited a lower skin hydration. The chemical nature and the crystalline structure of the urea were confirmed by Raman microspectroscopy and by second harmonic generated signals in two-photon tomography. The presence of urea dendrimer crystals in the glabrous skin seems to reduce the water binding capacity leading to dry hands. These findings highlight a new direction in understanding the mechanisms leading to dry hands and open opportunities for the development of better moisturizers and hand disinfection products and for diagnostic of dry skin.