Hand Antisepsis: Evaluation of a Sprayer System for Alcohol Distribution

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of a new alcohol sprayer by comparing it with an individual bottle of alcohol. Patterns of use and perceptions among healthcare personnel were compared for the two products. DESIGN: Observational study recording the volume of alcohol used and the compliance rate (frequency of hand antisepsis per number of opportunities), and a survey of healthcare workers' perceptions of the different hand hygiene strategies. SETTING: A 20-bed medical unit in a public hospital in Marseille, France. PARTICIPANTS: Healthcare workers of an infectious disease unit INTERVENTIONS: Hand hygiene alcohol systems (sprayer vs individual bottle, 70% ethyl alcohol). RESULTS: The sprayer was used more frequently than the individual bottle (12.6 vs 9.7 hand washes per day). With the sprayer system, compliance was 91% for physicians, 28% for nurses, and 8% for housekeeping personnel. Alcohol hand antisepsis was preferred to washing hands with soap and water in low-risk situations such as simple entrance into a room (91% vs 36%; P < 10(-6)) or simple contact with a patient (69% vs 40; P < .005). The sprayer system was considered easier to use (95%), more hygienic (90%), and faster (92%), with a better tolerance than the individual bottle. CONCLUSION: The new alcohol sprayer should improve rapid hand antisepsis.