Alcohol Hand Rub Products - FAQs

 

Can you show that Guest Hand Rub is effective against common hand contaminants?
Yes, Guest Alcohol Hand Rub contains 70% alcohol which is proven to be effective against vegetative bacteria including MRSA, VRE, ESBLs and Mycobacteria.  Further, Guest Alcohol Hand Rub has been demonstrated to conform to the BS:EN1500 Standard for hand disinfection (testing done by The Hospital Infection Research Laboratory, Birmingham. U.K.).

Alcohol hand rubs dry out and crack my skin, can you prevent this happening?
Yes, the Guest Alcohol Hand Rub contains five specific skin-care ingredients, not just glycerol. These ingredients are the same that are used by the cosmetics industry in hand creams and other skin care products and are designed not just to moisturise, but also to protect, condition and improve the texture and feel of your skin.

 
Does Guest Alcohol Hand Rub kill MRSA?
Yes, a study published on the British Medical Journal website in September 2002 showed that the Guest Alcohol Hand Rub effectively reduced the presence of MRSA on the hands of medical staff from an average of 22.7% to 2.7%.  The study was performed on a random selection of hospital staff including Doctors, Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Healthcare Support Workers, Administrators and Porters.  Ref: Thakerar and Goodbourn 2002, Do you want the latest evidence?  Click here to read a paper published in the British Medical Journal.

 
I have used alcohol gels in the past, why is your product not in gel form?
We could easily make the Guest Alcohol Hand Rub into a gel but these can be sticky, take longer to evaporate and feel 'claggy' after use. User information shows us that frequent users want a rub that is not only kind to the skin but also that spreads easily and above all, quickly over the hands without leaving a sticky feel and without making the procedure laborious or time consuming. Our product is, in actuality, quite viscous but tends to feel 'thin' because one of our special ingredients includes a 'slip' factor that helps to spread the rub evenly and quickly over the skin ensuring proper coverage and disinfection as rapidly as possible.

Can I use your product on dirty hands?
No! Alcohol Hand Rubs and Gels should never be used on dirty or soiled hands. 70% Alcohol is a very effective disinfectant but only in clean conditions. If your hands are soiled you need to wash them properly with soap and water; if you feel it is necessary use the hand rub afterwards.

How many times can I use your hand rub before I have to wash my hands?
Generally after about six applications you will feel the need to wash off the build-up of the hand care products, but this will vary with your skin type and the conditions in which you are working. Most importantly remember hand rubs or gels are not meant to be a permanent substitute for correct hand washing, they should be an alternative where conventional methods are impractical. Ideally you should be washing your hands with a mild, gentle, hypoallergenic liquid soap and drying on disposable paper towels, if necessary using a good quality hand lotion afterwards to moisturise and condition your skin. When this is not possible or practical, use the alcohol hand rub provided the hands are not soiled.

 
The Guest Alcohol Hand Rub really makes my hands feel good, but can you assure me that the hand care products in it do not affect the disinfection properties of the alcohol?
Naturally we have done extensive testing on this point and we have the results of independent studies showing that the alcohol still kills micro-organisms such as Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas in the presence of the skin care products. Copies of these reports are available on request.

 
Does the Guest Alcohol Hand Rub meet the BS:EN1500 Standard for hand disinfection?
Yes, tests performed by The Hospital Infection Research Laboratory in Birmingham, U.K. show that the Guest formulation of Alcohol Hand rub conforms to the BS:EN 1500 Standard.