Seeking Clearer Recommendations for Hand Hygiene in Communities Facing Ebola: A Randomized Trial Investigating the Impact of Six Handwashing Methods on Skin Irritation and Dermatitis

PLoS One. 2016 Dec 28;11(12):e0167378. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167378. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

To prevent disease transmission, 0.05% chlorine solution is commonly recommended for handwashing in Ebola Treatment Units. In the 2014 West Africa outbreak this recommendation was widely extended to community settings, although many organizations recommend soap and hand sanitizer over chlorine. To evaluate skin irritation caused by frequent handwashing that may increase transmission risk in Ebola-affected communities, we conducted a randomized trial with 91 subjects who washed their hands 10 times a day for 28 days. Subjects used soap and water, sanitizer, or one of four chlorine solutions used by Ebola responders (calcium hypochlorite (HTH), sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC), and generated or pH-stabilized sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl)). Outcomes were self-reported hand feel, irritation as measured by the Hand Eczema Score Index (HECSI) (range 0-360), signs of transmission risk (e.g., cracking), and dermatitis diagnosis. All groups experienced statistically significant increases in HECSI score. Subjects using sanitizer had the smallest increases, followed by higher pH chlorine solutions (HTH and stabilized NaOCl), and soap and water. The greatest increases were among neutral pH chlorine solutions (NaDCC and generated NaOCl). Signs of irritation related to higher transmission risk were observed most frequently in subjects using soap and least frequently by those using sanitizer or HTH. Despite these irritation increases, all methods represented minor changes in HECSI score. Average HECSI score was only 9.10 at endline (range 1-33) and 4% (4/91) of subjects were diagnosed with dermatitis, one each in four groups. Each handwashing method has benefits and drawbacks: soap is widely available and inexpensive, but requires water and does not inactivate the virus; sanitizer is easy-to use and effective but expensive and unacceptable to many communities, and chlorine is easy-to-use but difficult to produce properly and distribute. Overall, we recommend Ebola responders and communities use whichever handwashing method(s) are most acceptable, available, and sustainable for community handwashing.

Trial registration: International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Registry ISRCTN89815514.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Dermatitis / etiology*
  • Female
  • Hand Disinfection / methods*
  • Hand Hygiene / methods*
  • Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / epidemiology*
  • Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / prevention & control
  • Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / transmission
  • Humans
  • Irritants / adverse effects
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic*
  • Residence Characteristics*
  • Self Report
  • Skin / drug effects*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Irritants

Grants and funding

This study was funded by a grant from the United States Agency for International Development, Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (AID-OFDA-A-15-00026). MW was supported by the National Science Foundation (grant 0966093). The funders had no role in data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The funders did have a small role in study design - in that the initial design we proposed was 15 participants per study arm, and the funders came back to us in the proposal stage and suggested increasing the funding to support 18 participants per study arm, which was done. The funders had no input into study design after the grant was awarded. The funders were provided a final version of the manuscript before submission, and had only minor grammatical comments.