Proven Results
GOJO combines passion for our Purpose -- saving lives and making life better through well-being solutions -- with scientific knowledge of hand hygiene and skin care. This leads to positive outcomes that make a difference in people's lives. Select a link below for an outcome study summary providing scientific evidence of results achieved.
Reducing Infection Rates in Healthcare
Reducing Absenteeism in Schools and Colleges Improved Skin Condition in Harsh Environments Prone to Dermatitis Reducing Illness and Absenteeism in Military Settings
Handwashing vs. Gloving for Food Handlers
Reducing Infection Rates in Healthcare
Study: A close look at alcohol gel as an antimicrobial sanitizing agent.
Results: The Healthcare Personnel Handwash data showed that the mean log reductions from baseline were greatest for the lotion soaps with alcohol gel sanitizer, less for the alcohol alone and the antimicrobial soap alone, and least for the bland soap alone. All of the product regimens showed a low potential for skin irritation.
Conclusion: In terms of both microorganism reduction and skin irritation, the most effective product regimens were the use of alcohol gel sanitizer in combination with either an antimicrobial or a bland soap.
Reference: AJIC: American Journal of Infection Control. 27(4):332-338, August 1999. Paulson, Daryl S. PhD a; Fendler, Eleanor J. PhD b; Dolan, Michael J. BS b; Williams, Ronald A. MS b
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Study: The impact of alcohol hand sanitizer use on infection rates in an extended care facility.
Results: The primary infection types found were urinary tract with Foley catheter, respiratory tract, and wound infections. Comparison of the infection types and rates for the units where hand sanitizer was used with those for the control units where the hand sanitizer was not used showed a 30.4% decrease in infection rates for the 34-month period in the units where hand sanitizer was used.
Conclusion: This study indicates that use of an alcohol gel hand sanitizer can decrease infection rates and provide an additional tool for an effective infection control program.
Reference: AJIC: American Journal of Infection Control. 30(4):226-233, June 2002. Fendler, E. J. PhD a; Ali, Y. PhD a; Hammond, B. S. a; Lyons, M. K. BSN, RN b; Kelley, M. B. CRRN b; Vowell, N. A. RN b
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Study: Use of alcohol hand sanitizer as an infection control strategy in an acute care facility.
Results : The primary infection types (more than 80%) found were urinary tract (UTI) and surgical site (SSI) infections. Infection types and rates for the unit during the period the alcohol hand sanitizer (intervention) was used were compared with the infection types and rates for the same unit when the alcohol hand sanitizer was not used (baseline); the results demonstrated a 36.1% decrease in infection rates for the 10-month period that the alcohol hand sanitizer was used.
Conclusion: This study indicates that use of an alcohol gel hand sanitizer can decrease infection rates and provide an additional tool for an effective infection control program in acute care facilities. (Am J Infect Control 2003;31:109-16.)
Reference: AJIC: American Journal of Infection Control. 31(2):109-116, April 2003. Hilburn, Jessica MT (ASCP), CIC a; Hammond, Brian S. b; Fendler, Eleanor J. PhD b; Groziak, Patricia A. MS b
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Study: Bacterial shedding and desquamation from the hands of healthcare workers correlates with skin condition.
Results: Bacterial dispersal and quantitative skin measurements were obtained from 86 healthcare workers over a 3 day period. The levels of bacteria shed from the hands of the healthcare workers was found to be negatively correlated to corneometer measurements (p < 0.01); and positively correlated to desquamation index (p < 0.02). No correlation was found between levels of shed bacteria and transepidermal water loss. As expected, corneometer measurements were found to be negatively correlated to desquamation index (p < 0.0001).
Conclusion: The results of this hospital study demonstrate that the levels of bacteria shed from the hands of healthcare workers are influenced by the health of the individual's skin; i.e. dry skin sheds more bacteria. This increased bacterial dispersal from dry skin may increase the infection transfer risk for healthcare workers with poor skin condition in the acute care setting.
Reference: American Journal of Infection Control, Volume 34, Issue 5, June 2006, Pages E85-E86. C.A. Kolly, J.W. Arbogast, D.R. Macinga
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Reducing Absenteeism in Schools and Colleges
Study: Effect of hand sanitizer use on elementary school absenteeism.
Results: The overall reduction in absenteeism due to infection in the schools included in this study was 19.8% for schools that used an alcohol gel hand sanitizer compared with the control schools.
Conclusion: Elementary school absenteeism due to infection is significantly reduced when an alcohol gel hand sanitizer is used in the classroom as part of a hand hygiene program.
Reference: AJIC: American Journal of Infection Control. 28(5):340-346, October 2000. Hammond, Brian a; Ali, Yusuf PhD a; Fendler, Eleanor PhD a; Dolan, Michael a; Donovan, Sandra RN, MSN b
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Study: The effect of a comprehensive handwashing program on absenteeism in elementary schools.
Results: Two hundred ninety students from five independent schools were enrolled in the study. Each test classroom had a control classroom, and only the test classroom received the intervention (education program and hand sanitizer). Absenteeism data was collected for 3 months. The number of absences was 50.6% lower in the test group.
Conclusion: The data strongly suggests that a hand hygiene program that combines education and use of a hand sanitizer in the classroom can lower absenteeism and be cost-effective.
Reference: AJIC: American Journal of Infection Control. 30(4):217-220, June 2002. Guinan, Maryellen a,b; McGuckin, Maryanne Dr ScEd, MT (ASCP) c; Ali, Yusef PhD d
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Study: The effect of hand hygiene on illness rate among students in university residence halls.
Results: The overall increase in hand-hygiene behavior and reduction in symptoms, illness rates, and absenteeism between the product group and control group was statistically significant. Reductions in upper respiratory-illness symptoms ranged from 14.8% to 39.9%. Total improvement in illness rate was 20%. The product group had 43% less missed school/work days.
Conclusion: Hand-hygiene practices were improved with increased frequency of handwashing through increasing awareness of the importance of hand hygiene, and the use of alcohol gel hand sanitizer in university dormitories. This resulted in fewer upper respiratory-illness symptoms, lower illness rates, and lower absenteeism.
Reference: AJIC: American Journal of Infection Control. 31(6):364-370, October 2003. White, Cindy PhD a; Kolble, Robin BSN a; Carlson, Rebecca MSN a; Lipson, Natasha BA a; Dolan, Mike BS b; Ali, Yusuf PhD b; Cline, Mojee PhD b*
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Improved Skin Condition in Harsh Environments Prone to Dermatitis
Study: Effectiveness of a hand care regimen with moisturizer in manufacturing facilities where workers are prone to occupational irritant dermatitis.
Results: Comparison of the change in the skin condition of workers using the full hand care regimen with moisturizer versus a control group using a regimen without moisturizer demonstrated significant (p < .05) improvements in multiple measures after 1 to 2 weeks. Corneometer readings consistently showed significant improvement for employees using moisturizer, regardless of their work location.
Conclusion: Improved skin condition resulted from the regular use of an effective skin conditioning hand moisturizer as part of a skin care regimen in work environments in which workers were prone to experiencing occupational irritant contact dermatitis.
Reference: Arbogast JW - Dermatitis - 01-MAR-2004; 15(1): 10-7
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Reducing Illness and Absenteeism in Military Settings
Study: Alcohol-based Instant hand sanitizer use in military settings - a prospective cohort study of army basic trainees.
Results: When compared to the control group, intervention groups experienced 40% less respiratory illness (p < 0.001), 48% less gastrointestinal illness (p < 0.02), 44% less lost training time (p < 0.001), and 31% fewer health care encounters (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: These findings suggest that this intervention is capable of significantly reducing illness in this setting and has the potential to help reduce absenteeism in the military workforce as a whole.
Reference: Military Medicine, Volume 172, Number 11, November 2007 , pp. 1170-1176(7)
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Hand Hygiene for Food Handlers
Study: Efficacy evaluation of four hand cleansing regimens for food handlers.
Abstract: This study examined the ability of four handwashing regimens to reduce transient microorganisms on the skin of hands. The efficacy of these regimens was determined using a modified Healthcare Personnel Handwash procedure and Escherichia coli as the transient marker organism. The regimens consisted of a non-antimicrobial hand cleanser, an alcohol gel hand sanitizer, an antibacterial soap and an antibacterial soap plus application of an alcohol gel hand sanitizer.
Conclusion: The most effective configuration for antimicrobial control in the food industry clearly is the combination of the antimicrobial handwash followed by alcohol gel application. This configuration produced a high immediate reduction of transient microorganism, with potential for increased reductions with multiple applications of the antimicrobial hand soap over a period of days.
Reference: Dairy, Food and Environmental Sanitation, Volume 19, Number 10, October 1999, pp. 680-684
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Title: Handwashing and gloving for food protection: examination of the evidence.
Abstract: This paper presents a review on published literature (medical, microbiology, and food industry) related to all aspects of handwashing and gloving. This review demonstrates that there is insufficient scientific evidence to support the premise that the use of gloves on the hands of food-handling personnel prevents the transfer of pathogens to food and, consequently, to support the requirement for no-hand contact with ready-to-eat food.
Personal Authors: Fendler, E. J., Dolan, M. J., Williams, R. A.
Author Affiliation: GOJO Industries, Inc., Akron, Ohio, USA.
Reference: Paulson, D. S.
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Title: Handwashing and gloving for food protection: effectiveness.
Abstract: This paper presents a 2-phase study which evaluated the effectiveness of handwashing compared to gloving, under simulated food service conditions. The first phase evaluated the ability of hand-contaminant bacteria to penetrate compromised vinyl glove barriers. The second phase evaluated the microbial contamination level picked up on the hands from handling contaminated hamburger.
Personal Authors: Fendler, E. J., Dolan, M. J., Williams, R. A., Paulson, D. S.
Author Affiliation: GOJO Industries, Inc., Akron, Ohio, USA.
Reference: Paulson, D. S.
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