Abstract

The use of hand sanitizers has made numerous claims, notably their ability to eliminate 99.9% of microorganisms. The present study investigated the antibacterial effect of different commercial and homemade hand sanitizers on clinical isolates from human skin using standard microbiological procedures. Five different samples of hand sanitizers designated sample E, sample N, sample L, sample G, and sample P were used for the study. A total of three isolates namely, E. coli, Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas sp were identified. The results of the study showed that sample L had more effect compared to other hand sanitizers with zone of inhibition ranging from 5.0 – 11.5mm followed by sample G (8.0- 9.0mm), P (3.0- 6.4mm), E (2.1- 4.2mm) and N (2.0- 6.0mm) which showed varying zones of inhibition according to the test isolates. The decreasing order of the hand sanitizers tested was therefore, L > G > P > N > E. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the sanitizers on the test isolates showed that all the samples had an MIC at 100% concentration. Some of the products assayed had good efficacy and all products tested were not active against all the test organisms using the dilution method.