Microbiological evaluation of the efficacy of soapy water to clean hands: a randomized, non-inferiority field trial.

Amin, N; Pickering, AJ; Ram, PK; Unicomb, L; Najnin, N; Homaira, N; Ashraf, S; Abedin, J; Islam, MS; Luby, SP

Microbiological evaluation of the efficacy of soapy water to clean hands: a randomized, non-inferiority field trial.

Amin, N Pickering, AJ Ram, PK Unicomb, L Najnin, N Homaira, N Ashraf, S Abedin, J Islam, MS Luby, SP

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Publisher:: AMER SOC TROP MED & HYGIENE
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Am J Trop Med Hyg, 2014, 91, (2), pp. 415-423
Issue Date:: 2014-08

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Amin, N
dc.contributor.author	Pickering, AJ
dc.contributor.author	Ram, PK
dc.contributor.author	Unicomb, L
dc.contributor.author	Najnin, N
dc.contributor.author	Homaira, N
dc.contributor.author	Ashraf, S
dc.contributor.author	Abedin, J
dc.contributor.author	Islam, MS
dc.contributor.author	Luby, SP
dc.date.accessioned	2022-03-14T07:13:22Z
dc.date.available	2022-03-14T07:13:22Z
dc.date.issued	2014-08
dc.identifier.citation	Am J Trop Med Hyg, 2014, 91, (2), pp. 415-423
dc.identifier.issn	0002-9637
dc.identifier.issn	1476-1645
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/155220
dc.description.abstract	We conducted a randomized, non-inferiority field trial in urban Dhaka, Bangladesh among mothers to compare microbial efficacy of soapy water (30 g powdered detergent in 1.5 L water) with bar soap and water alone. Fieldworkers collected hand rinse samples before and after the following washing regimens: scrubbing with soapy water for 15 and 30 seconds; scrubbing with bar soap for 15 and 30 seconds; and scrubbing with water alone for 15 seconds. Soapy water and bar soap removed thermotolerant coliforms similarly after washing for 15 seconds (mean log10 reduction = 0.7 colony-forming units [CFU], P < 0.001 for soapy water; mean log10 reduction = 0.6 CFU, P = 0.001 for bar soap). Increasing scrubbing time to 30 seconds did not improve removal (P > 0.05). Scrubbing hands with water alone also reduced thermotolerant coliforms (mean log10 reduction = 0.3 CFU, P = 0.046) but was less efficacious than scrubbing hands with soapy water. Soapy water is an inexpensive and microbiologically effective cleansing agent to improve handwashing among households with vulnerable children.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	AMER SOC TROP MED & HYGIENE
dc.relation.ispartof	Am J Trop Med Hyg
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.4269/ajtmh.13-0475
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	11 Medical and Health Sciences
dc.subject.classification	Tropical Medicine
dc.subject.mesh	Bangladesh
dc.subject.mesh	Child, Preschool
dc.subject.mesh	Clostridium perfringens
dc.subject.mesh	Colony Count, Microbial
dc.subject.mesh	Developing Countries
dc.subject.mesh	Escherichia coli
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Hand Disinfection
dc.subject.mesh	Hot Temperature
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Microbial Viability
dc.subject.mesh	Mothers
dc.subject.mesh	Soaps
dc.subject.mesh	Water
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Clostridium perfringens
dc.subject.mesh	Escherichia coli
dc.subject.mesh	Water
dc.subject.mesh	Soaps
dc.subject.mesh	Colony Count, Microbial
dc.subject.mesh	Mothers
dc.subject.mesh	Developing Countries
dc.subject.mesh	Child, Preschool
dc.subject.mesh	Bangladesh
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Microbial Viability
dc.subject.mesh	Hot Temperature
dc.subject.mesh	Hand Disinfection
dc.title	Microbiological evaluation of the efficacy of soapy water to clean hands: a randomized, non-inferiority field trial.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	91
utslib.location.activity	United States
utslib.for	11 Medical and Health Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)/Institute For Sustainable Futures
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2022-03-14T07:13:21Z
pubs.issue	2
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	91
utslib.citation.issue	2

Abstract:

We conducted a randomized, non-inferiority field trial in urban Dhaka, Bangladesh among mothers to compare microbial efficacy of soapy water (30 g powdered detergent in 1.5 L water) with bar soap and water alone. Fieldworkers collected hand rinse samples before and after the following washing regimens: scrubbing with soapy water for 15 and 30 seconds; scrubbing with bar soap for 15 and 30 seconds; and scrubbing with water alone for 15 seconds. Soapy water and bar soap removed thermotolerant coliforms similarly after washing for 15 seconds (mean log10 reduction = 0.7 colony-forming units [CFU], P < 0.001 for soapy water; mean log10 reduction = 0.6 CFU, P = 0.001 for bar soap). Increasing scrubbing time to 30 seconds did not improve removal (P > 0.05). Scrubbing hands with water alone also reduced thermotolerant coliforms (mean log10 reduction = 0.3 CFU, P = 0.046) but was less efficacious than scrubbing hands with soapy water. Soapy water is an inexpensive and microbiologically effective cleansing agent to improve handwashing among households with vulnerable children.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/155220