Skin protection in nursing work: promoting the use of gloves and hand alcohol (2024)

Jungbauer, FHW., van der Harst, J. J., Groothoff, J. W., & Coenraads, PJ. (2004). Skin protection in nursing work: promoting the use of gloves and hand alcohol. Contact Dermatitis, 51(3), 135-140. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0105-1873.2004.00422.x

Jungbauer, FHW ; van der Harst, J.J. ; Groothoff, J.W. et al. / Skin protection in nursing work : promoting the use of gloves and hand alcohol. In: Contact Dermatitis. 2004 ; Vol. 51, No. 3. pp. 135-140.

@article{d7ba6e8e9f2a41518c370e38794f3ef2,

title = "Skin protection in nursing work: promoting the use of gloves and hand alcohol",

abstract = "Nursing has been identified as a wet-work occupation, with a high prevalence of occupational irritant contact dermatitis. Reduction of exposure to skin irritants contributes to the prevention of occupational skin disease in nurses. The role of the use of soap and water, hand alcohol and gloves in prevention programmes is discussed. 2 additional measures for reducing exposure to skin irritants are postulated: use of hand alcohol instead of soap and water in disinfection procedures when the hands are not visibly dirty; use of gloves in wet activities such as patient washing to prevent the hands from becoming wet and visibly dirty. We investigated the effectiveness of these recommendations in a model. Mean daily wet-work exposure during nursing work was modelled: regular model. We also modelled exposure to skin irritants in combination with the implementation of these recommendations: prevention model. The hands of healthy volunteers were exposed to the regular or the prevention model over 3 weeks for 5 days a week. The change in transepidermal water loss (TEWL) on the back of the hands was measured after 3 weeks of exposure to these wet-work simulations. An increase in TEWL occurred with the regular model, while mean TEWL decreased in the prevention model. Skin irritation from occlusion by gloves appeared to be more pronounced in the regular model compared to the prevention model. The results of this study justify the conclusion that in nursing work, hand alcohol is the preferred disinfectant. Although the prevention model implies increased occlusive exposure, this has no additional irritant effect, probably because of the absence of soap exposure. Record 16 of 20 - MEDLINE(R) In-Process & Other Citations Dec Wk 4",

keywords = "gloves, hand alcohol, hand dermatitis, irritant contact dermatitis, occupational, prevention measures, skin irritants, soap and water, TEWL, CONTACT-DERMATITIS, HYGIENE, NURSES, SURVEILLANCE, DISEASE, SOAP",

author = "FHW Jungbauer and {van der Harst}, J.J. and J.W. Groothoff and PJ Coenraads",

year = "2004",

month = sep,

doi = "10.1111/j.0105-1873.2004.00422.x",

language = "English",

volume = "51",

pages = "135--140",

journal = "Contact Dermatitis",

issn = "0105-1873",

publisher = "Wiley",

number = "3",

}

Jungbauer, FHW, van der Harst, JJ, Groothoff, JW & Coenraads, PJ 2004, 'Skin protection in nursing work: promoting the use of gloves and hand alcohol', Contact Dermatitis, vol. 51, no. 3, pp. 135-140. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0105-1873.2004.00422.x

Skin protection in nursing work: promoting the use of gloves and hand alcohol. / Jungbauer, FHW; van der Harst, J.J.; Groothoff, J.W. et al.
In: Contact Dermatitis, Vol. 51, No. 3, 09.2004, p. 135-140.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Skin protection in nursing work

T2 - promoting the use of gloves and hand alcohol

AU - Jungbauer, FHW

AU - van der Harst, J.J.

AU - Groothoff, J.W.

AU - Coenraads, PJ

PY - 2004/9

Y1 - 2004/9

N2 - Nursing has been identified as a wet-work occupation, with a high prevalence of occupational irritant contact dermatitis. Reduction of exposure to skin irritants contributes to the prevention of occupational skin disease in nurses. The role of the use of soap and water, hand alcohol and gloves in prevention programmes is discussed. 2 additional measures for reducing exposure to skin irritants are postulated: use of hand alcohol instead of soap and water in disinfection procedures when the hands are not visibly dirty; use of gloves in wet activities such as patient washing to prevent the hands from becoming wet and visibly dirty. We investigated the effectiveness of these recommendations in a model. Mean daily wet-work exposure during nursing work was modelled: regular model. We also modelled exposure to skin irritants in combination with the implementation of these recommendations: prevention model. The hands of healthy volunteers were exposed to the regular or the prevention model over 3 weeks for 5 days a week. The change in transepidermal water loss (TEWL) on the back of the hands was measured after 3 weeks of exposure to these wet-work simulations. An increase in TEWL occurred with the regular model, while mean TEWL decreased in the prevention model. Skin irritation from occlusion by gloves appeared to be more pronounced in the regular model compared to the prevention model. The results of this study justify the conclusion that in nursing work, hand alcohol is the preferred disinfectant. Although the prevention model implies increased occlusive exposure, this has no additional irritant effect, probably because of the absence of soap exposure. Record 16 of 20 - MEDLINE(R) In-Process & Other Citations Dec Wk 4

AB - Nursing has been identified as a wet-work occupation, with a high prevalence of occupational irritant contact dermatitis. Reduction of exposure to skin irritants contributes to the prevention of occupational skin disease in nurses. The role of the use of soap and water, hand alcohol and gloves in prevention programmes is discussed. 2 additional measures for reducing exposure to skin irritants are postulated: use of hand alcohol instead of soap and water in disinfection procedures when the hands are not visibly dirty; use of gloves in wet activities such as patient washing to prevent the hands from becoming wet and visibly dirty. We investigated the effectiveness of these recommendations in a model. Mean daily wet-work exposure during nursing work was modelled: regular model. We also modelled exposure to skin irritants in combination with the implementation of these recommendations: prevention model. The hands of healthy volunteers were exposed to the regular or the prevention model over 3 weeks for 5 days a week. The change in transepidermal water loss (TEWL) on the back of the hands was measured after 3 weeks of exposure to these wet-work simulations. An increase in TEWL occurred with the regular model, while mean TEWL decreased in the prevention model. Skin irritation from occlusion by gloves appeared to be more pronounced in the regular model compared to the prevention model. The results of this study justify the conclusion that in nursing work, hand alcohol is the preferred disinfectant. Although the prevention model implies increased occlusive exposure, this has no additional irritant effect, probably because of the absence of soap exposure. Record 16 of 20 - MEDLINE(R) In-Process & Other Citations Dec Wk 4

KW - gloves

KW - hand alcohol

KW - hand dermatitis

KW - irritant contact dermatitis

KW - occupational

KW - prevention measures

KW - skin irritants

KW - soap and water

KW - TEWL

KW - CONTACT-DERMATITIS

KW - HYGIENE

KW - NURSES

KW - SURVEILLANCE

KW - DISEASE

KW - SOAP

U2 - 10.1111/j.0105-1873.2004.00422.x

DO - 10.1111/j.0105-1873.2004.00422.x

M3 - Article

C2 - 15479202

SN - 0105-1873

VL - 51

SP - 135

EP - 140

JO - Contact Dermatitis

JF - Contact Dermatitis

IS - 3

ER -

Jungbauer FHW, van der Harst JJ, Groothoff JW, Coenraads PJ. Skin protection in nursing work: promoting the use of gloves and hand alcohol. Contact Dermatitis. 2004 Sept;51(3):135-140. doi: 10.1111/j.0105-1873.2004.00422.x