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Activity of an Alcohol-Based Hand Gel Against Human Adeno-, Rhino-, and Rotaviruses Using the Fingerpad Method

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Syed A. Sattar*
Affiliation:
Centre for Research on Environmental Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Makonnen Abebe
Affiliation:
Centre for Research on Environmental Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Angela J. Bueti
Affiliation:
Centre for Research on Environmental Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Hanuman Jampani
Affiliation:
Johnson & Johnson Medical, Division of Ethicon, Inc, Arlington, Texas
Jerry Newman
Affiliation:
Johnson & Johnson Medical, Division of Ethicon, Inc, Arlington, Texas
Steven Hua
Affiliation:
Johnson & Johnson Medical, Division of Ethicon, Inc, Arlington, Texas
*
Centre for Research on Environmental Microbiology (CREM), Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada

Abstract

Objective:

To assess the activity against three non-enveloped viruses (an adeno-, a rhino- and a rotavirus) of a gel containing 60% ethanol, using experimentally contaminated thumb- and fingerpads of 12 panelists, as per standard procedure E-1838-96 of the American Society of Testing and Materials.

Design:

Each digit received 10 μL of the test virus suspension. The inocuLum from the thumbs was eluted immediately with 990 μL of Earle's balanced salt solution (EBSS) to assess the amount of virus on each digit (0-minute control). The inoculum on the fingers was allowed to dry (20-25 minutes), and virus was eluted from two fingerpads to determine the loss in virus infectivity upon drying (baseline titer). Then the dried inoculum on randomly selected fingers was exposed to 1 mL of the test product or standard hard water (200-ppm calcium carbonate) for 20 seconds. The virus remaining was eluted with 1 mL of EBSS, titrated to determine the amounts eliminated, and compared to the baseline titer.

Results:

Each digit received at least 104 plaque-forming units of virus in 10 μL The amounts of adeno-, rhino-, and rotaviruses surviving the drying were 30%, 75%, and 42%, respectively. The product reduced the infectivity titers of the three viruses by 3 to >4 log10 when compared to a reduction of ≤ 1 log10 for the hard-water rinse.

Conclusion:

The level of virus reduction by gel was statistically significantly higher than that seen with the water control. Evidence for such activity against non-enveloped viruses supports further investigation of the benefits of this product.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2000

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