European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

AN ASSESSMENT OF ANTIMICROBIAL EFFICACY OF LIQUID SOAP AND ALCOHOL-BASED HAND SANITIZER ON REGULAR HAND MICROBIOME

Siddhi Bangale, Saurav Angnani, Karthik Shivkumar, Sunita Bundale* and Nandita Nashikkar

ABSTRACT

Background: Transmission of microbial infections is most commonly through hands coming in contact with contaminated surfaces in our daily routine. Hence the importance of hand hygiene cannot be overlooked, particularly in the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic. This study was undertaken to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of liquid soap and hand sanitizer of two popular brands, Dettol and Lifebuoy, against hand microflora. Materials & Methods: Six subjects performed their routine activities without washing their hands for six hours. Handprints of the subjects were taken on trypticase soy agar plates, before and after the application of liquid soap/sanitizer for visual assessment of reduction in microflora. The potency of liquid soaps and hand sanitizers was evaluated by the agar well diffusion method using selected isolates from the agar handprints. Two of these isolates were identified by the Vitek technique. Results and Conclusion: Remarkable reduction in the microflora was visually observed in the handprints after the application of liquid soaps of both brands. The sanitizers of both brands were found to be more effective in reducing the microbial load when the hands were not visibly dirty. Two of the isolates were identified as Pantoea spp. and Kocuria kristinae. Thus washing hands with soap and water should be preferred whenever possible.

Keywords: Antimicrobial efficacy, hand hygiene, alcohol based hand sanitizer, liquid soap, hand microbiome.