Hand Sanitizers

For many years nows, I have recommended waterless hand sanitizers for NWCOs (Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators) who cannot easily access traditional soap and water. While these products cannot (and don't) solve all the infectious disease issues facing NWCOs (e.g. parasites), hand sanitizers certainly help. The key is to use one that has at least 60% alcohol.

But recent research has refined this recommendation. An abstract of a presentation by Natalie D'Antonio, John D. Rihs, Melissa A. Tosiano, Janet E. Stout, and Victor L. Yu, entitled "Efficacy of Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers (ABHS): A Hand Wipe (65.9% Ethanol) Exceeds the Killing Capacity of a Gel Rub (62% Ethanol) published in The American Journal of Infection Control (June 2009):E116-117, stated that a hand wipe with 65% alcohol (Sani-Hands ALC hand wipe by PDI Inc.) did a better job at killing bacterial germs than a gel with 62% alcohol (Purell gel rub). Now the authors pointed out that handwashing with microbial soap did a better job at sanitizing than either alcohol based solutions.

One advantage of wipes, not mentioned by the authors, is that wipes allow the NWCO to remove dirt and grime that can harbor pathogens. The friction and wiping capacity of a wipe allows a NWCO to scrub and remove germs. This removal action is one reason why hand washing is so effective. The flowing water coupled with the rubbing action of pressing hands detaches germ carrying grime so that the water can rinse it away. Although not as effective as handwashing, wipes provide the opportunity to use friction and wiping to remove grime so that the alcohol has an opportunity to kill the germs that remain.

Bottom line. NWCOs should wash their hands whenever possible. If they can't, they should choose to use alcohol wipes with 65% alcohol over 62% gel.

Stephen M. Vantassel is Project Coordinator at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is the webmaster for the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management (http://icwdm.org/).