The pandemic of COVID-19 and its implications for the purity and authenticity of alcohol-based hand sanitizers: The health risks associated with falsified sanitizers and recommendations for regulatory and public health bodies

Jairoun, Ammar Abdulrahman; Al‐Hemyari, Sabaa Saleh; Shahwan, Moyad

doi:10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.04.014

Cited by 40 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 11 publications

(10 reference statements)

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“…During the COVID-19 incidence, the enormous demand for and consumption of ABHSs created major challenges to get and use ABHSs for HH as a primary prevention technique [27,28]. In accordance with the results of the present study, ABHS unavailability, cost, forgetting, and skin damage were the main reasons for not performing HH by ABHSs.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Utilization of Alcohol-based Hand Sanitizers and Associated Health Risks Among Healthcare Professionals Amid COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional Study

H¹,

Mariam²,

Gudeta³

2021

Preprint

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Background: Alcohol-based hand sanitizer is a crucial and widely used product to avert the rapid spreading of corona-virus disease (COVID-19). However, frequent apply of alcohol-based hand sanitizer mainly at the point-of-care can cause health risks and shortages in and outside the healthcare facilities. The present study was designed to assess the utilization of alcohol-based hand sanitizers and the incidence of associated health risks among health care professionals in COVID-19 pandemic times. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Jimma University Medical Center, Ethiopia, between April 01 and June 27, 2020. The collected data were analyzed and described using IBM SPSS Statistics software version 21.Results: Ninety-six health care professionals with 28.69+4.048 years of mean age participated in the study. 95.8% of them practiced alcohol-based hand sanitizers to avert COVID-19 virus transmission in the healthcare setting and community. But they were challenges to practice hand hygiene with alcohol-based hand sanitizers. The common problems were alcohol-based hand sanitizers unavailability 66(68.8%), costly 50(52.1%), and skin damage 8(8.3%). Most of them experienced health risks such as skin dryness 60(62.5%), skin irritation 27(28.1%), ocular irritation 11(11.5%), cough 11(11.5%), and others. These health risks resulted in that 9(9.4%) of them did not practice hand hygiene by alcohol-based hand sanitizers (p-value = 0.999). Conclusion: To prevent COVID-19 virus transmission by alcohol-based hand sanitizers, health care professionals faced different challenges, such as access to alcohol-based hand sanitizers and reported health risks. Therefore, the regulatory and public health bodies should promote local production of alcohol-based hand sanitizers with careful follow-up, and its health risks management plan should gain attention.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Utilization of Alcohol-based Hand Sanitizers and Associated Health Risks Among Healthcare Professionals Amid COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional Study

H¹,

Mariam²,

Gudeta³

2021

Preprint

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“…Notably, the addition of denaturing agents to ABHS is a critical aspect of reducing the risk of their oral ingestion. Furthermore, stringent regulatory oversight is required to monitor ABHS manufacturers and supply chains [9].…”

Section: Abhs Ingestion (Accidental and Intentional)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers – A Multidimensional Perspective

Nyamwweya¹,

Abuga²

2020

Preprint

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The global use of alcohol based hand sanitizers (ABHS) as a means of controlling the transmission of infectious disease increased dramatically in 2020 as governments and public health agencies across the world advocated hand hygiene as a preventative measure during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the performance of these products is most commonly defined as a function of their alcohol concentration, they are multifaceted products in which an interplay of several factors is important in determining efficacy. The hand sanitizer tetrahedron, is a novel concept that considers both ABHS formulation factors and product performance factors from a multi-dimensional perspective. The four faces of the tetrahedron represent input/formulation factors: 1) the type and amount of alcohol, 2) inactive ingredients, 3) the type of formulation/delivery system and 4) manufacturing practices. The four corners of the tetrahedron represent output/product performance factors: 1) efficacy, 2) sensory characteristics, 3) usage, usability and compliance and 4) product safety/adverse effects. All factors are of importance to ensuring the effectiveness and utility of these products.

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“…1,[4][5][6] Despite the range of sanitizers in the global market, ABHRs are found to be the most effective and a higher rate of compliance was observed in the healthcare settings. 7 The availability and affordability problems of ABHR products from the market in low-and middleincome countries (LMICs) can be solved by producing them in the health facilities as indicated by WHO and other literatures. 1,5,[8][9][10] However, some concerns limit the use of ABHR products for decontamination of hands in the health facilities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

<p>Increased Production of Alcohol-Based Hand Rub Solution in Response to COVID-19 and Fire Hazard Potential: Preparedness of Public Hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia</p>

Selam¹,

Bayisa²,

Ababu³

et al. 2020

RMHP

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Background: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), alcohol-based hand rubs (ABHRs) are regarded as the "gold standard" for hand disinfection in healthcare facilities. Local production of ABHRs in health facilities is recommended by WHO due to its availability and affordability reasons. However, fire hazard is a concern in health facilities during ABHRs production, storage, or use from dispensers. Objective: To evaluate the preparedness of public hospitals found in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia towards potential fire hazards during ABHR production and storage practices. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was applied. An assessment checklist was used for evaluating public hospitals' measures taken for the potential fire hazards during ABHR production and storage practice. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23 was used for data entry and analysis. Results: Out of the 13 public hospitals observed in the study, fire extinguishers were not available in more than half of the hospitals' (7 hospitals) compounding premises. Also, 57.1% of the hospitals without fire extinguishers were manufacturing beyond the WHO 50 liters limit of ABHR solution at once under such unfavorable conditions. Moreover, ethanol and the oxidizing agent hydrogen peroxide were not stored separately in eight hospitals. Conclusion: None of the hospitals were found to be well prepared for the potential risk of fire associated with ABHR solution production and storage practice. Generally, the practices taken by the studied hospitals for preventing the fire risk and minimizing the damage if fire hazards occurred during ABHR production and storage were not satisfactory. On the safety and precautions measures taken for the risk of fire, Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH), Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital (AMSH), and Eka Kotebe General Hospital (EKGH) showed a relatively better preparedness compared to others. ABHR solutions should be manufactured and stored in a way that limits the risk of ignition and follows standard fire safety measures.

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The pandemic of COVID-19 and its implications for the purity and authenticity of alcohol-based hand sanitizers: The health risks associated with falsified sanitizers and recommendations for regulatory and public health bodies

Cited by 40 publications

References 11 publications

Utilization of Alcohol-based Hand Sanitizers and Associated Health Risks Among Healthcare Professionals Amid COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional Study

Utilization of Alcohol-based Hand Sanitizers and Associated Health Risks Among Healthcare Professionals Amid COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional Study

Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers – A Multidimensional Perspective

<p>Increased Production of Alcohol-Based Hand Rub Solution in Response to COVID-19 and Fire Hazard Potential: Preparedness of Public Hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia</p>

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