The outbreak of novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 has suddenly made hand sanitisers an essential item. “Alcohol-based or alcohol-free sanitisers?” is a common query of people and the situation is such that pharmacies and supermarkets had to actually limit the number of bottles per sale.
It is evident that Coronavirus spreads because of touching any surface contaminated with the virus and then touching face, particularly nose, eyes or mouth. It is estimated that people unknowingly touch their face about 23 times an hour.
Thus, cleaning or disinfecting hands may be vital to keep contamination at bay.
Pertinent question-which sanitiser is the best one?
There are mainly two types of hand sanitisers: alcohol-based and alcohol-free. Alcohol-based sanitisers contain alcohol between 60 to 95 per cent and usually are ethanol (ethyl alcohol), isopropyl alcohol or n-propanol. The chemical composition of alcohol is capable of killing most of the germs.
Alcohol-free sanitisers contain quaternary ammonium ( usually benzalkonium chloride) and no alcohol. This makes these sanitisers less effective in destroying the microbe.
Alcohol-based hand sanitisers are found effective at killing many types of bacteria including E-Coli and MRSA. They are also effective against viruses like HIV, rhinovirus, influenza A virus, hepatitis A virus and MERS-CoV.
Most viruses, including coronavirus have a cage of protein around them. This cage is essential for the virus’s survival as well as multiplication, but the use of a hand sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol, the viruses get killed by the chemical reaction. Not just viruses, the alcohol-based hand sanitisers are equally effective in killing fungi and bacteria.
The sanitisers with less than 60% alcohol can only reduce the growth of germs rather than an outright killing of them.
So, alcohol-based sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol is the best. But then they cannot replace the washing of hands with soap. Washing hands with warm water and soap is the gold standard rule of hand hygiene. It removes germs from hands and thereby ceases the spread.
Sneezing or coughing into hands requires more than just a pump of hand sanitiser. The mucous on the hands protect the microbes and that’s why it becomes essential to wash hands first. Don’t have water-no problems-use any sanitiser with 60%+ alcohol.
We cannot lay more emphasis on personal hygiene and cleaning, it is critical to clean surroundings, throw garbage in the designated yard, wear mask, assist the administration in containing the virus and its spread. Also, do not hoard.
An advice on homemade sanitisers. If one is not sure, pick verified commercial and certified sanitisers, trust the source and concentrate on washing hands frequently.
Keep Clean, Stay Healthy.
