Background: Alcohol hand gels (AHG) have been used by children in child day care centers (CDCCs) to prevent the transmission of microbes. Because parents and personnel have been concerned about the safety of AHGs, we conducted a trial to assess this.
Methods: A total of 82 children age 3.5 to 7.2 years (mean, 5.7 years) at 2 CDCCs rubbed their hands with AHG. Alcohol concentrations in expiratory air were measured using an official police alcometer after 15 and 60 minutes. We also conducted a questionnaire survey asking how commonly AHGs were used in CDCCs, obtaining 128 answers from 68 CDCCs (with more than 1 person responding in 6 CDCCs).
Results: All of the alcometer readings were < 0.01 per thousand, although up to 30 contacts with the mucous membranes (mean, 2.4) occurred during the first 15 minutes. An AHG was used in all 68 CDCCs, but only by adults at 11 of them. The most common occasions for using an AHG were before serving food and after cleaning secretions. One case of fire occurred when a worker lit a fire while his hands were covered with AHG. Personnel were most concerned about situations in which children put their fingers into their mouth or eyes after using an AHG.
Conclusion: The use of an AHG in CDCCs is safe. Even though children tend to put their hands into their mouth after disinfection, no significant amount of alcohol is absorbed.