Hand Rub Research Articles

Barriers to COVID-19 Prevention Measures Among People Experiencing Homelessness with Substance Use Disorder or Serious Mental Illness.

People experiencing homelessness (PEH) are at disproportionate risk of becoming infected and having severe illness from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), especially when residing in congregate settings like homeless shelters. Behavioral health problems related to substance use disorder (SUD) and severe mental illness (SMI) may have created additional challenges for PEH to practice prevention measures like mask wearing, physical distancing, handwashing, and quarantine and isolation. The study objective was to understand the perceived barriers PEH face regarding COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical prevention strategies and identify recommendations for overcoming barriers. From August-October 2020, qualitative phone interviews with 50 purposively selected behavioral health professionals across the United States serving PEH with SUD or SMI were conducted. Professionals described that PEH faced barriers to prevention that were structural (e.g., access to necessary resources), behavioral (related to SUD or SMI), or related to the priority of other needs. Recommendations to overcome these barriers included providing free prevention resources (e.g., masks and hand sanitizer), providing education about importance of prevention strategies, and prioritizing access to stable housing. Interviews took place before COVID-19 vaccines were available, so barriers to vaccination are not included in this paper. Findings can help support tailored approaches during COVID-19 and future public health threats.

"Preparation of Copper/Aloe Vera-Based Hand Sanitizer: A Mini Overview"

New hand sanitizer designs with eco-friendly components such as aloe vera and copper can allow pharmaceutical companies to bring enhanced applications onto the market while demonstrating simple and inexpensive preparations associated with improved microbial effectiveness. Alcoholic or non-alcoholic hand rubs are distinctively major classes of hand sanitizer platforms that can be prepared into hydrogels to address solutions for improved formulations. The innovative-utility of these hydrogels seems to be limited only by their ingredients and thus novel materials like copper or aloe vera can lead to optimization of anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties of sanitizers, and therefore a diversified product that may aid further research related to high demands of safe and sustainable materials to combat the current pandemic of COVID-19. The customized designs of starch or cellulosic hydrogels may ensure the diversity and right quality of incorporating these components needed for biocidal activity against microbes in the suggested hand sanitizers. Furthermore, the discussed sanitizer of copper and aloe vera combined in starch or cellulosic hydrogels are believed to exert enhanced texture, tone, and elasticity upon topical application due to their properties that may delve into the enzymatic activities required for less prevalence of skin lesions commonly known in traditional hand sanitizers.

Building capacity for point of care alcohol-based handrub (ABHR) and hand hygiene compliance among health care workers in the rural maternity and surgical units of a hospital in Cameroon

Hand hygiene (HH) is challenging in health care, but particularly in resource-limited settings due to a lack of training, resources, and infrastructure. This study aimed to evaluate the implementation of wall-mounted alcohol-based handrub (ABHR) at the point of care (POC) on HH compliance among health care workers in a Cameroon hospital. It was a three-stage before and after study. The first stage involved baseline collection of ABHR utilization and HH compliance data. The second stage included the implementation of ABHR at the POC, supported by an implementation strategy involving HH training, monitoring and feedback, and HH champions. The third stage involved postimplementation data collection on ABHR use and HH compliance. 5,214 HH opportunities were evaluated. HH compliance significantly increased from 33.3% (baseline) to 83.1% (implementation stage) (P<.001) and to 87.2% (postimplementation stage) (P<.001). Weekly ABHR usage increased significantly during implementation (5,670ml), compared to baseline, (1242.5ml, P=.001), and remained high in postimplementation (7,740ml). Continuous availability of ABHR at POC, supported by implementation strategy, significantly increased HH compliance and ABHR use. Learning from this study could be used to implement ABHR at POC in other facilities.

Counseling on the Use of Lime (Citrus aurantifolia) as Pharmaceutical Preparations in the Making of Mouthwash and hand Sanitizer

Health services, including in the form of health counselling and traditional medicine, are one of the most elementary health service programs considering the level of the ratio of the population to the centre, health service units and health workers who do not meet the ideal balance, so a breakthrough and smart steps are needed in responding to this. I was counselling on the Use of Lime (Citrus aurantifolia) as a Pharmaceutical Preparation in the Making of Mouthwash (Mouthwash) and Hand Sanitizer ( Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer) with the aim of improving the degree of health in the mouth and using Lime as a hand sanitiser. The methods of these activities are identification of the target objectives of the training, tools and materials used, good communication methods that are easy to understand, visualisation, evaluation, and feedback so that it can be concluded that counselling on the use of Lime as a pharmaceutical preparation in the manufacture of Mouthwash and Hand Sanitizer is a concern for healthy living in the surrounding community for the better. Thus creating a healthy and prosperous society.

COVID-19 Perceptions Among North Carolina Native Americans: Using a Qualitative Approach.

COVID-19 has amplified the health and economic disparities in Native American communities. However, there are limited data from Native American populations. This study is the first phase of the Building Resilience And Vital Equity (BRAVE) project, the scope of which is to understand Indigenous perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors about COVID-19 and design and implement culturally sensitive interventions to increase testing and vaccinations among Native American communities. We recruited 26 Native Americans and conducted open-ended, semi-structured interviews to explore participants' perceptions of COVID-19 and related themes, such as needed support, informational sources, trust, communication, and protection of elders. The results show that wearing a mask, hand sanitizing, and social distancing had very high support while perceptions of testing and vaccination decisions were mixed. Additionally, two themes stand out: the lack of reliable information resources to learn about COVID-19 and the lack of trust in the government. This study included a small sample size, which makes it difficult to include participants from diverse demographic backgrounds. Lack of familiarity with the online meeting format and the limited internet access in some indigenous communities may have prevented some people from participating. The findings confirmed the need to improve existing public health information infrastructure and helped explain the intensified impact of COVID-19 on the Indigenous marginalized community. The findings help identify the key factors that affect Native Americans' testing and vaccination decisions and provide guidance on the designs of community intervention programs.

Peranan Camat dalam Pencegahan dan Pengendalian Corona Virus Disease (Covid-19) di Kecamatan Gido, Kabupaten Nias

Corona Virus Disease (Covid-19) is an epidemic that has an infectious nature. Covid - 19 first appeared in the city of Wuhan, Hubei Province, China and has spread to 190 countries in the world including Indonesia. Officially, WHO as the world health agency named this virus as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-related Coronavirus-2 (SARS_CoV-2) or Corona Virus Disease 2019 (Covid-19). The Covid-19 virus outbreak is known to have clinical symptoms in human respiration, even to the point of severity causing death. On March 14, 2020 the Indonesian government declared the Covid-19 outbreak a national disaster. As a result of the Covid-19 outbreak, the Indonesian government took strategic steps to prevent wider cases by issuing PSBB and PPKM policies. This policy aims to break the transmission rate of Covid-19. As an issue and problem, Covid-19 has also not escaped the attention of the Gido District government, so this study aims to find out the role of the sub-district head in preventing and controlling Corona Virus Disease (Covid-19) in Gido District, Nias Regency and to find out the obstacles experienced by the Head of Gido subdistrict in the prevention and control of Corona Virus Disease (Covid-19) in Gido District, Nias Regency. This researcher uses a qualitative method that is descriptive in nature, namely to provide a clear picture of the problem under study. Data collection techniques used are observation, interviews and documentation. The results showed that the role of the sub-district head in prevention and control was effective. This is marked by the activeness of the camat in providing advice and outreach and collaborating between various parties such as the Koramil and puskesmas as well as village government officials to jointly prevent the transmission of Covid-19 and provide health facilities for the community such as masks and hand sanitizers. The sub-district head also took firm action against immigrants to self-isolate. The sub-district head also plays a role in monitoring the process of recusing village funds to be diverted to communities affected by Covid-19 so that people can receive social assistance evenly. The inhibiting factor experienced by the sub-district head is that there are still many people who do not understand the dangers of Covid - 19 and the solution for this is that the sub-district head cooperates with the puskesmas to participate in explaining about Covid-19 and how it is transmitted as well as ways to prevent and overcome it.

Hand Hygiene Messaging Design in the Workplace: Views From the Workforce-Introduction.

The study aimed to (1) discover workers' attitudes toward the use of novel video screens to improve hand sanitization in the workplace and (2) discover what workers' preferences are for hand hygiene (HH) messaging style and tone and reasons for their preferences. Practicing good HH in non-medical office settings is vital to curb the spread of a range of common and infectious diseases. Despite this, workers are rarely consulting in the construction of HH messages. The qualitative views of users can provide us with the "why" rather than the "what" and can highlight areas of cynicism, concern and overall attitudes to HH. A survey was completed by 520 UK workers concerning attitudes and views toward HH messaging and the use of a video-based hand sanitizer unit. Analysis consisted of both qualitative and quantitative methods. Workers were skeptical toward the use of digital technologies within HH interventions, and there were misgivings about the role that video could play. Results demonstrated a strong preference for positive and supportive messages. Educational and trustworthy qualities were well rated. Messages that emphasized surveillance, previously successful in a clinical setting, or guilt, were not well received. Visual approaches that utilized serious illustration were valued. This study highlights how consulting workers before the design of HH initiatives is important in guiding the design process. The resultant user-centered criteria promotes the use of positive, motivational, thought-provoking, surprising, and visual approaches to HH messaging.

Establishment of District-Led Production of WHO-Recommended Alcohol-based Hand Rub (ABHR) during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Model for Improving Access to ABHR during Health Emergencies.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we established and sustained local production of alcohol-based handrub (ABHR) at district scale for healthcare facilities and community, public locations in four districts in Uganda. District officials provided space and staff for production units. The project renovated space for production, trained staff on ABHR production, and transported ABHR to key locations. The production officer conducted internal ABHR quality assessments while trained district health inspectors conducted external quality assessments prior to distribution. Information, education, and communication materials accompanied ABHR distribution. Onsite ABHR consumption was monitored by site staff using stock cards. On average, it took 11 days (range: 8-14) and 5,760 USD (range: 4,400-7,710) to set up a production unit. From March-December 2021, 21,600L of quality-controlled ABHR were produced for 111 healthcare facilities and community locations at an average cost of 4.30 USD/L (range: 3.50-5.76). All ABHR passed both internal and external quality control (average ethanol concentration of 80%, range: 78-81%). This case study demonstrated that establishing centralized, local production of quality-controlled, affordable ABHR at a district-wide scale is feasible and strengthens the ability of healthcare workers and community locations to access and use ABHR during infectious disease outbreaks in low-resource countries.

Mapping the spatial transmission risk and public spatial awareness in the use of personal protective equipment: COVID-19 pandemic in East Java, Indonesia

This study aimed at developing a machine learning-based COVID-19 transmission risk spatial model and an analysis of the public spatial awareness in the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in their spatial environment (i.e., a spatial-based COVID-19 transmission risk model). Random Forest model combined with Information Gain was used in this study. Twenty-three geospatial variables that passed a feature selection process were inputted to build a spatial-based COVID-19 transmission risk model. The validation outcome reveals that Random Forest (RF) model achieved excellent COVID-19 transmission risk prediction result (AUC value of 94.7%). Transmission risk modeling results show that the moderate-to-high class risk pattern was concentrated in residential areas with complex road infrastructure. The model showed that land use, road infrastructure, minimum temperature, and close to urban areas is important for spatial modeling of COVID-19 transmission risk. The results of the public spatial awareness analysis show variations in respondents' use of PPE based on their spatial environment. They tend to carry one PPE whose use increases significantly from low-risk to high-risk. While being indoor, the majority used hand sanitizer, and a face mask when being outdoor. Thus, developing a spatial-based COVID-19 transmission risk prediction linked with public spatial awareness can be used as a reference to establish health policies or regulations by decision-makers, health boards, and governments to control and simultaneously reduce the risk of transmission more effectively and efficiently.

UNMASKING THE GOOD AND BAD IMPACT OF HAND SANITIZERS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented surge in hand sanitizer usage as a key preventive measure. This study aims to unmask both the positive and negative impacts of hand sanitizers on individuals and the environment. By examining their effectiveness in reducing viral transmission and potential benefits in promoting hand hygiene, it sheds light on the importance of their widespread adoption. Simultaneously, the research investigates concerns related to overuse, skin irritations, and the environmental implications of increased sanitizer production and disposal. Understanding the dual aspects of hand sanitizers will aid in promoting their safe and responsible use during the pandemic and beyond.

Optimasi Produksi Kitosan Dari Kitin Limbah Cangkang Bekicot Dan Pengaplikasiannya Untuk Pembuatan Handsanitizer

The Since the outbreak of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Indonesia starting in March 2020, the government has urged the public to bemore aware of maintaining cleanliness and health in an effort to break the chain of transmission and spread of the disease. One of the clean living patterns that later became a habit for the community is to maintain hand hygiene. It is recommended to wash the hands diligently. However, if it is difficult to wash hands, then a hand sanitizer could be an option. The widely available hand sanitizer is an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Ethanol, an alcohol compound, in a certain concentration is known as an effective antibacterial and antiviral. The use of alcohol (ethanol) in hand sanitizer is considered less safe for health because alcohol can irritate the skin. Alcohol is also a flammable compound. In addition, for the Indonesian people, who are predominantly Muslim, the presence of alcohol (ethanol) in the hand sanitizer makes people doubt the halal status of the hand sanitizer. One of compounds that has potential to replace the use of alcohol in hand sanitizer is chitosan. Chitosan can be used as an antibacterial agent because of the positive charge that can interact with the negatively charged of the bacterial cell surface. The existence of these interactions can interfere with the growth of bacterial colonies. Chitosan can naturally be found in the shells of mollusca. One type of mollusca shell with a high content of chitosan is the snail. The application of chitosan from snail shell waste to produce hand sanitizersvprovides a solution in overcoming environmental problems from the negativevimpact of snail shells if disposed carelessly and is a solution in producing halalvand safe hand sanitizers for the skin.

SCREENING FOR OXACILLIN RESISTANT SALMONELLA SPECIES ISOLATED FROM PALMS OF SOME PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS WITHIN KADUNA SOUTH LGA, NIGERIA

Salmonella species is the causative agent of typhoid fever which is a disease characterized by high mortality and morbidity worldwide. This study was carried out to screen oxacillin resistant- Salmonella species isolated from palms of some primary school pupils and food vendors within Kaduna South LGA, Nigeria. Three hundred (300) swab samples were collected from pupils and food vendors of the three selected primary schools as the sampling location. Salmonella enterica was isolated and identified using standard bacteriological methods. Isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin 28 (70.0%), Augmentin® 25 (65.0%) amoxicillin 25 (62.5%) and vancomycin 22 (55.0%) but showed resistance to oxacillin 9 (22.5%), ampicillin 12 (30.0%), chloramphenicol 15 (37.5%) and tetracycline 16 (40.0%). Antibiotics that exhibited intermediate susceptibility were methicillin 8 (20.0%) and gentamicin 11 (27.5%). Ciprofloxacin was the most effective antimicrobial agent against Salmonella enterica. The presence of oxacillin-resistant Salmonella enterica was detected via Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and agarose gel electrophoresis. The study recommends that regular monitoring of antibiotic susceptibility pattern and good hygiene practices such as hand washing with soap and water and the use of alcoholic based hand sanitizers should be encouraged.

Edukasi Pencegahan Penularan Covid-19 Melalui Pembagian Masker Dan Hand Sanitizer Di SDN 2 Padamulya Kabupaten Ciamis

Covid-19 is an acute respiratory disease caused by a new type of corona virus. This disease first broke out in Wuhan, China and then spread to almost the entire world and caused a global pandemic. The main symptoms of Covid-19 disease include cough, fever and shortness of breath. The Covid-19 pandemic has brought changes to various aspects of life, one of which is social change. One form of social change that occurred amid the Covid-19 pandemic was the birth of a new normal era. This new lifestyle allows all activities to resume but by implementing strict health protocols. This is the government's effort to keep all activities moving but also continue to try to break the chain of transmission of Covid-19. The purpose of this community service is to improve health status and provide education regarding steps to prevent Covid-19 in the school environment. The method used in this research is descriptive qualitative method. Based on the program, this activity also appealed to all students, teachers and school principals about Clean and Healthy Lifestyles (PHBS) and Hand Washing with Soap (CTPS), using masks and hand sanitizers. To prevent and anticipate the spread of the Covid-19 virus, public awareness is needed to actively implement PHBS and CTPS.

UPAYA MENJAGA KONDISI SEKOLAH YANG SEHAT UNTUK MENINGKATKAN MINAT BELAJAR SISWA KELAS III: TINJAUAN TERHADAP KESIAPAN SEKOLAH DALAM MENCIPTAKAN BUDAYA SEKOLAH SEHAT

Healthy school conditions play an important role in increasing student interest in learning. This research focuses on efforts that can be made by schools in maintaining healthy conditions, especially for third grade students. Based on the literature study, it was found that healthy schools have certain characteristics such as a clean learning environment, good air circulation, and adequate hand washing and sanitation facilities. School readiness in creating a healthy school culture can be seen from the active role of the school in educating students about the importance of health, involving parents of students in school health programs, and the involvement of school committees in monitoring and evaluation. In addition, the provision of facilities and hygiene principles is also important to be applied in order to maintain the health of students. Thus, efforts to maintain healthy school conditions can improve the quality of education and increase students' interest in learning in class III.

Evaluating the antimicrobial efficacy of long-lasting hand sanitizers on skin

The microbicidal efficacy of hand sanitizer formulations is usually measured through standardized quantitative suspension tests and fingerpad tests; these cannot evaluate long-lasting formulations or are impractical due to biological risks, high cost, or time required for testing. With increased numbers of long-lasting microbicidal activity claims of commercially available hand sanitizers, alternative testing strategies are required. To explore the use of a standardized ex-vivo pig skin model to reproducibly measure long-lasting efficacy of an alcohol-free hand sanitizer formulation. The microbicidal efficacy of an alcohol-free hand sanitizer was tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, and the enveloped virus SARS-CoV-2 with quantitative suspension tests (EN13727 and EN14476) with a contact time of 5min. The product was then tested over a 6h period using an ex-vivo pig skin model with a modified version of PAS 2424 to simulate the impact of skin abrasion. Quantitative suspension tests yielded a >5 log10 reduction for all organisms tested within a 5min contact time. Pig skin tests showed reduced but consistent efficacy at all time points and indicated no significant impact of abrasion on efficacy. The use of the ex-vivo pig skin model provides a potentially viable and convenient model system to test long-lasting hand sanitizer formulations, providing a path for sustainable hand sanitizer formulation claims of activity on skin.

The Influence of Shared Consumption on Product Efficacy Perceptions: The Detrimental Effect of Sharing with Strangers

Opportunities for the shared consumption of publicly available products that once might have been considered personal-use only, such as hand sanitizers and shampoos, are proliferating in the consumer environment. This work explores shared product consumption in these underresearched, but now ubiquitous, contexts. The authors suggest and find, over a series of five studies and across a variety of product domains, that sharing a product with strangers (i.e., sharing-out) engenders a lower sense of identification with the product, which leads to lower perceived product efficacy. They further show that the dampening effect of sharing-out on efficacy perceptions is limited to consumers high in self–brand connection.

Hand hygiene knowledge, attitude, barriers and improvement measures among healthcare workers in the Republic of Korea: a cross-sectional survey exploring interprofessional differences

BackgroundHand hygiene (HH) is a fundamental component of infection prevention and control in healthcare settings. This study aimed to identify knowledge, attitude, and barriers to HH according to occupational groups and strategies to increase the rate of HH compliance among healthcare workers (HCWs).MethodsThis cross-sectional survey was conducted in July 2018 at four university-affiliated hospitals. The survey comprised seven parts with 49 items, including self-reported HH compliance, knowledge, attitudes, behaviours, barriers to HH, and improvement strategies.ResultsA total of 1046 HCWs participated in the survey. The nursing group’s self-reported HH compliance rate was the highest, followed by other HCWs and physicians. The scores regarding knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours regarding HH were the highest in the nursing group. The nursing group also had higher internal and emotional motivation scores. Physicians and nurses found HH the most challenging in emergencies, while other HCWs considered skin problems caused by HH products the most significant barrier. Among 12 improvement measures, approximately 20% of the respondents ranked “diversify types of hand sanitisers,“ “install soap and paper towels in each hospital room,“ and “change perception through various HH campaigns” as the top three priorities. The physician group deemed the timely reminder of HH compliance as the second most critical improvement measure.ConclusionDifferences in knowledge, attitude and barriers hindering HH compliance and improvement plans were identified for each group. The findings suggest that targeted interventions tailored to the specific needs of different occupational groups may effectively improve HH compliance in healthcare settings.

Moringa and Spirulina: Mini Review on their use against COVID-19

The world woke up in 2020 with a new virus called coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). The virus spread easily from Wuhan, a western province in China to the whole world and caused a pandemic situation. Some preventive measures such as wearing of face masks and the use of alcohol-based sanitizers have been prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO). All these measures could not effectively handle the virus, and the world started to search for a new solution by using herbal medicines. This mini-review discusses the use of Moringa and spirulina to combat COVID-19.

Detection of Toxic Contaminants in Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers Using Infrared Spectroscopy

Recent fatalities due to methanol and 1-propanol toxicity in alcohol-based hand sanitizers has led the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban 594 different hand sanitizer brands. The FDA also introduced methanol testing in alcohol-based hand sanitizers before allowing the products to enter the United States This requirement creates a need for inexpensive, rapid, and portable testing methods to measure methanol and 1-propanol concentrations in alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Here we study the performance of infrared (IR) spectroscopy for measuring methanol and 1-propanol concentrations in an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and compare the performance of two portable spectrometers, Texas Instruments near-infrared (NIR) spectrometer (TI NIR) and NeoSpectra mid-infrared (MIR) spectrometer. The IR absorbance spectra were measured in transmission mode at different path lengths for 52 different hand sanitizer samples spiked with 0%–1% v/v concentrations of methanol and 1-propanol. A partial least-squares regression analysis shows ability to detect contaminant concentrations with a correlation coefficient of determination ( r2) up to 0.99 and root mean square error of prediction as low as 0.34% v/v.

Tailored positioning and number of hand rub dispensers: the fundamentals for optimized hand hygiene compliance

Availability of alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) dispensers at positions adapted to the work flow of healthcare workers (HCWs) is decisive in order to carry out indication-based hand rubbing. Although requirements and guidelines regarding the positioning of ABHR dispensers are in place, scientific evidence is often lacking. In order to analyse the impact of the location and number of ABHR dispensers on hand hygiene performance, additional dispensers were systematically placed in patient rooms in a surgical 38-bed ward at Marburg University Hospital, Germany to complement the existing dispenser locations. ABHR use was monitored continuously before and after complementation using the NosoEx hand hygiene monitoring system. The ward had 53 dispensers before the intervention and 82 dispensers after the intervention. The addition of dispensers increased ABHR consumption across the entire ward. Before the intervention, mean consumption was 20.6 mL/patient-day, whereas mean consumption after the intervention was 25.3 mL/patient-day. Depending on the combination of dispenser locations, consumption increased through targeted supplementation in patient rooms. The presence of two or three dispensers per patient room resulted in significantly greater ABHR consumption compared with one dispenser per patient room. The preferred location combinations were entrance-front bed-back bed and entrance-foot end. ABHR consumption can be increased significantly by optimizing the position and number of dispensers. The outstanding factors are visibility and integrability of dispenser use into the work flow; in particular, a dispenser should be positioned in the entrance area. Recommendations should be optimized with regard to the required number and location of dispensers in patient rooms.