ABSTRACT

 Hand hygiene generally refers to different methods of eliminating or killing microorganisms which may be present on hands, by either hand washing or sanitizing. The concept of hand sanitization has been in place right from the start of the hand hygiene campaign. Therefore, this study determined the antimicrobial activities of some sanitizers in Umuahia metropolis. From this study, the antibacterial activity of the three hand sanitizers (2-Sure, Pure classic and marvelous) was performed on the test bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa') using agar well diffusion techniques. Only one of the hand sanitizers (2-Sure) exhibited inhibitor}' activity against the test isolates, with zones of inhibition ranging from 20mm to 25mm at concentrations of 100%. The results from this study showed that the highest in-vitro antimicrobial activity is (25.0mm) was exhibited by the 2-Sure Sanitizer at the highest concentration of lOOmg/ml against Staphylococcus aureus, while the least antimicrobial activity (6.5mm) was exhibited at the concentration of 6.25mg/ml against all the test bacteria respectively. Generally, the lack of antibacterial activity observed pure classic hand sanitizer could be due to poor or prolonged storage of the products which could lead to increased temperature causing evaporation ofthe active ingredient. The minimum inhibitory concentration and the minimum bactericidal concentration of the hand sanitizers (2 sure and pure classic) against the test bacteria revealed that the products had activity against all the isolate at the range of 25mg/ml and 50mg/ml except the third product which showed no inhibitory effect on the test organisms. From the results obtained, it could be concluded that one ofthe products inhibited the growth of all the test organisms in vitro and the most efficacious product was only able to effect bacterial reductions in vivo at 100% concentration. Again the second product was effective at some concentration, while marvelous sanitizer which is the third product yielded no result. Hence the need for more stringent checks of products introduced into the Nigerian market may therefore be necessary to ensure that they meet set international standards both in composition of inhibitory substance and texture to ensure uniformity in activity against pathogens.