Does Adherence to World Health Organization Hand Hygiene Protocols in the Operating Room Have the Potential to Produce Irritant Contact Dermatitis in Anesthesia Providers?

Anesth Analg. 2019 Dec;129(6):e182-e184. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000004112.

Abstract

Anesthesia providers have the burden of constant hand hygiene during task dense periods. The requirement for hand hygiene often demands frequent application of alcohol-based hand rub. To assess whether frequent alcohol-based hand rub use leads to skin changes or irritant contact dermatitis, volunteers cleaned their hands with alcohol-based hand rub every 15 minutes for 8 hours for 5 sequential days. They were examined by a dermatologist before and after and asked about subjective skin changes. Results suggest an increase in irritant contact dermatitis scores and subjective complaints.

MeSH terms

  • Anesthesiologists / standards*
  • Dermatitis, Contact / diagnosis
  • Dermatitis, Contact / etiology*
  • Dermatitis, Occupational / diagnosis
  • Dermatitis, Occupational / etiology*
  • Guideline Adherence / standards*
  • Hand Disinfection / standards*
  • Hand Sanitizers / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Infection Control / methods*
  • Occupational Exposure / adverse effects*
  • Operating Rooms / standards
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic / standards*
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians' / standards*
  • Random Allocation
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • World Health Organization

Substances

  • Hand Sanitizers