Dorothy Ilada

Biology Lab 1615

R 4:00 PM
3-29-16
Summary of Efficacy of Waterless Hand Hygiene Compared with Handwashing with
Soap
There are many diseases out there that we humans try our best to prevent. Some come in
genetically and some are caused by harmful habits. Sadly, they do affect our children; most
commonly diarrheal and respiratory diseases. Children who are less than five years of age are
prone to diarrhea. 1.87 million kids in the world lose their lives to diarrhea every year. Harmful
pathogens like Salmonella and Eshcerichia coli can enter the childs body by fecal and/or oral
pathways. Question is How?. Researchers are concerned that hands of a child are constantly
contaminated after handling ones own fecal matter; causing these diseases and illnesses. One
thing that surprisingly is limited in certain areas of the world is having proper hygiene and
availability to water to aid hygiene. So researchers test and gather enough information on how
we can improve personal hygiene by finding alternative options just in case water availability is
very limited. In this study, we investigate how the antimicrobial efficacy of hand sanitizer
(ABHS) compares with hand washing with soap and water under field conditions in Dar es
Salaam, Tanzania. (Pickering, 2010)
Researchers accumulated a total of fifty-three students and nine teachers for this study; as
well as 127 mothers and ten nurses. Now that they have a good sample to divide into study
groups, 58 percent were placed in a Sanitizer Efficacy test; and the last 26 percent were placed
in the Hand Washing Efficacy test to compare. They interviewed each participants and
gathered information like previous water and sanitation services they are accustomed to and their

reviews on the use of hand sanitizer. Researchers collect microbial samples from the participants
hands through sterile collecting techniques and collect any assessments from participants that
have experienced symptoms from bloody stool, stomach pains, and to excessive bowel
movements.
For hand rinsing, enumerators would visually inspect the participants hands for any dirt
in the palms, finger pads, and under the fingernails. Each subject inserted his or her hand into a
69-oz Whirl-Pak bag (NASCO Corp., Fort Atkinson, WI) contain- ing 350 mL of clean
water. (Pickering, 2010) After this, the participant will dry hands and apply hand sanitizer or
water soap. Then he/she will repeat the same glove method but with the opposite hand.
Enumerators make sure every step is critically followed with accuracy; so participants
use only a certain amount of water for the hand washing test and time the process. Each control
group were sampled separately to collect various levels of bacteria they may carry. With these
samples, Enumerators analyze them for traces of any Eshcerichia coli.
After 48 hours of testing and collecting of data, results concluded that symptoms of
Gastrointestinal illnesses showed up in fifteen percent of all those that participated. Which
thirteen percent were adults. When they interviewed the participants, only 43 percent claimed
they regularly use soap when they wash their hands. 22 percent of adults also mentioned that
soap is not usually available in their homes. Sadly, a whopping 54 percent of students reported
that they do not always have enough water for proper hygiene at school. Considerable amounts
of fecal streptococci were found in between fingers; which are linked to illnesses in the
respiratory system. Fecal streptococci was found to be higher than Eshcerichia coli in the hand

rinse samples. Overall, participants show positivity to use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer. 94
percent said they would use it in their homes.

Bibliography
Pickering, Amy J., Alexandria B. Boehm, Mathew Mwanjali, and Jennifer Davis. "Efficacy of
Waterless Hand Hygiene Compared with Handwashing with Soap: A Field Study in Dar Es
Salaam, Tanzania." The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (2010): 270-78.
Web.