Effectiveness of alcohol-based hand hygiene products against the current pandemic strain of H1N1

Background: In 2009 a novel strain of H1N1 emerged as the etiologic agent of the recent pandemic Influenza outbreak. One of the key recommendations for preventing the transmission of illness from H1N1 or other infectious pathogens is proper hand hygiene. The use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers has been recommended by the CDC to help prevent transmission of H1N1.
Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether CDC recommendations for use of an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to prevent transmission of H1N1 are supported.  A secondary objective was to determine whether product format has an impact on the efficacy of alcohol-based hand sanitizers against H1N1.

Methods: Five alcohol-based hand sanitizers were tested: a 62% ethanol gel, 62% ethanol foam, 2 different 70% ethanol gel formulations, and a 62% ethanol wipe formulation.  Samples were evaluated using the standard virucidal suspension test method (ASTM E 1052).  Each sample was exposed to pandemic strain A/California/04/2009 of Swine-like Influenza A H1N1 (CDC ID # 2009712047) for 15 seconds prior to neutralization and plating.  Log reductions were calculated for each product by comparison to the initial virus titer. Results: All alcohol-based products tested achieved complete reduction (>4.25 log₁₀ reduction) of the virus within the 15 second contact time.
Conclusions: ·         The CDC recommendations for use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers for preventing transmission of the current pandemic strain of H1N1 are supported.  Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are considered a reliable intervention for the reduction of H1N1 virus on hands.
·         Since all products tested achieved complete reduction of the virus, product format (gel, foam, wipe) did not impact efficacy of alcohol-based hand sanitizers.