for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) long-standing position that benefited a select number of companies known for their alcohol-based sanitizers, the non-alcohol sector has, until recently, represent-ed no more than 1 to 2 percent of the over-all market. A Prohibition Of Sorts But, the combination of a continuous stream of academic studies pointing to the “downside” of alcohol-based hand sanitizers, coupled with heightened awareness on equally effective, yet safer and more environmentally friendly — and arguably more cost-efficient — hand sanitizer products has resulted in a major shift away from flammable, alcohol-based products towards alcohol-free products, most of which utilize the organic compound benzalkonium chloride as the active ingredient. A quaternary ammonium, benzalkonium chloride has long been recognized as an efficient antibacterial and antiseptic agent proven to be upwards of 99.99 percent effective against a broad spectrum of pathogens, including enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. Unlike alcohol, these products do not cause the skin to become dry or irritated, they are not flammable and they provide extended persistency. While the health care industry has remained reticent, at best, to adopt these new formulations, procurements of non-alcohol sanitizers on behalf of government, municipal, military, correctional, corporate, senior care and educational venues has, according to many, taken distributors by surprise. In turn, they’ve been inspired to reach out with both hands to well-equipped manufac-turers of alcohol-free products and dis-pensing systems. According to Dr. Richard Tooker, chief medical officer for Kalamazoo County, Michigan, “I don’t know why we always seem to stress alcohol-based hand sanitiz-ers. It may be to keep public education eas-ier and less complicated. I personally don’t like them because I have eczema and it really dries and inflames my skin, increas-ing my risk for infection.” This new movement comes despite the fact that the CDC has provided nominal guidance on alcohol-free hand sanitizer alternatives for many years. And, while the CDC did update its posi-tion on alcohol-free alternatives in an August 2009 memo directed to K-12 educa-tional systems, their long-standing endorsement of alcohol-based hand sani-tizer has been heavily discounted by a con-tinually growing audience representing a broad spectrum of facilities — all of whom have either restricted or banned alcohol-based hand sanitizer products from their venues. Case in point: In January 2009, the U.S. Naval Submarine Command officially pro-hibited alcohol-based sanitizers onboard their fleet of submarines. With hands in their faces, these decision-makers have inspected the irritated skin When It Comes to Hand Hygiene No One Does It Better! STOKO® Skin Care hand hygiene solutions and sanitizers are the perfect cost saving answer for a germ-free, worry-free environment. Prevent the spread of germs and stay healthy with STOKO® Skin Care. For more information call 1-800-334-0242 or visit www.stokoskincare.com Environmentally Preferred Hand Hygiene For A More Sustainable World Circle Product Information no. 215 on page 32 www.cmmonline.com 25
CMM – Archives May 2010: 25
