An easy to follow comparison guide highlighting the difference between alcohol-based and water-based hand sanitisers.
Contents
There’s certainly no shortage of information online regarding this topic however I haven’t come across many unbiased side-by-side comparisons.
This following is a general overview based on commercial products that meet minimum requirements and doesn’t apply to home-made or low-grade products.
Overview
Alcohol-Free Hand Sanitisers certainly come with some positive characteristics. They're safe (Non-DG, Not Hazardous), they pose less health risks, and are much cheaper by volume.
However, there's a lot of conflicting information regarding the effectiveness of Alcohol-Free Hand Sanitisers, particularly on how effective quats are against active and inactive viruses.
Studies and testing are regularly being conducted and are showing positive results. For example, a recent study of products containing quats found them to be effective against SARS-CoV-2 with short contact times killed at least 99.9 per cent of the virus within 15 seconds. See article Alcohol-free hand sanitizer and other quaternary ammonium disinfectants quickly and effectively inactivate SARS-CoV-2.
Applying Sanitiser
For hand sanitiser to be effective it must be used correctly. Before use, hands should be free from contamination and grease as this will compromise effectiveness of the sanitiser. The correct amount should be used and applied all over the surfaces of both hands until the hands are dry. Hands should not be wiped afterwards.
Hand Washing vs Sanitising
The Department of Health recommends that you use soap and running water wherever possible and use hand sanitiser where soap and water may not be available.
Studies have revealed that washing hands with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds, providing a proper technique is used, is more effective at removing a wider variety of bacteria, including the novel coronavirus, than sanitiser.
The friction of rubbing your hands together with running water dislodges dead microbes and viral cells from the hands and washes them down the drain. Drying hands afterwards with a disposable towel also aids in removing virus particles and substantially more disease-causing organisms from the skin than sanitiser alone.
Which One is Better?
If it comes down to compliance then the Alcohol Based option is a must. Otherwise, if proper hygiene procedures are used, such as correct hand washing techniques, then both products essentially fulfil the same purpose.
The decision may ultimately come down to the end-user, budget, and general preference.
For example, a water-based sanitiser may be more suitable in a childcare or aged care centre where it may get misused or ingested. Users with sensitive skin conditions such as dermatitis may also prefer this option, as would customers requiring a fragrance-free option.
Health Care facilities are likely to use the Alcohol Based option and there are some users that simply prefer the smell and sensation of an alcohol-based product as it gives them the impression that it’s working.
Hand Washing and Sanitising Posters for Download
Click on the image below to be taken to the resources page where the following posters can be downloaded.
References
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