Assessment of exposure to ethanol vapors released during use of Alcohol-Based Hand Rubs by healthcare workers

Hautemanière, Alexis; Cunat, Lisiane; Ahmed-Lecheheb, Djihane; Hajjard, Farah; Gérardin, Fabien; Moréle, Yves; Hartemann, Philippe

doi:10.1016/j.jiph.2012.09.015

Cited by 16 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…In a similar study with a larger sample of 86 healthcare workers tested before and after a 4‐hour shift, alcohol was not detected in blood and urine, but approximately one‐third of healthcare workers demonstrated an elevated mean expired EtOH level of 0.008 mg/dl within 2 minutes of exposure (Ahmed‐Lecheheb et al., ). Furthermore, another study found a significant positive correlation between the amount of hand sanitizer used and EtOH concentration in inhaled air, suggesting that increased sanitizer use will increase inhaled alcohol exposure (Hautemaniere et al., 2013b).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inhalation of Alcohol Vapor: Measurement and Implications

MacLean

Valentine

Jatlow

et al. 2017

Alcoholism Clin & Exp Res

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Decades of alcohol research have established the health risks and pharmacodynamic profile of oral alcohol consumption. Despite isolated periods of public health concern, comparatively less research has evaluated exposure to alcohol vapor. Inhaled alcohol initially bypasses first-pass metabolism and rapidly reaches the arterial circulation and the brain, suggesting that this route of administration may be associated with pharmacological effects that increase the risk of addiction. However, detailed reviews assessing the possible effects of inhaled alcohol in humans are lacking. A comprehensive, systematic literature review was conducted using Google Scholar and PubMed to examine manuscripts studying exposure to inhaled alcohol and measurement of biomarkers (biochemical or functional) associated with alcohol consumption in human participants. Twenty-one publications reported on alcohol inhalation. Fourteen studies examined inhalation of alcohol vapor associated with occupational exposure (e.g., hand sanitizer) in a variety of settings (e.g., naturalistic, laboratory). Six publications measured inhalation of alcohol in a controlled laboratory chamber, and 1 evaluated direct inhalation of an e-cigarette with ethanol-containing “e-liquid.” Some studies have reported that inhalation of alcohol vapor results in measurable biomarkers of acute alcohol exposure, most notably ethyl glucuronide. Despite the lack of significantly elevated blood alcohol concentrations, the behavioral consequences and subjective effects associated with repeated use of devices capable of delivering alcohol vapor are yet to be determined. No studies have focused on vulnerable populations, such as adolescents or individuals with alcohol use disorder, who may be most at risk of problems associated with alcohol inhalation.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inhalation of Alcohol Vapor: Measurement and Implications

MacLean

Valentine

Jatlow

et al. 2017

Alcoholism Clin & Exp Res

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“…Similar contamination of exhaled breath by alcohol can occur if vapours of anti-freeze alcoholbased washer fluids from windshield washer permeates the automobile's cabin [21]. Another ways, how the environmental alcohol vapours can affect breath analysis, are false-positive results after using an alcohol-based hand disinfectant lotion prior the test [22][23]. All these cases signalise the "alcohol air-pollution" nearby the subject being tested, directly influencing the results.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An unusual case of highly false-positive breath-alcohol test in a motor vehicle driver

Straka¹,

Novomeský²,

Marcinkova³

et al. 2017

RJLM

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Breath-alcohol measuring is considered to be the most common and most widely used procedure during police driven roadside traffic stops of suspected drunk drivers. In spite of significant advances in technology and legal structure, significant challenges still remain to be solved. Positive breath alcohol concentrations despite abstinence while driving have been reported after exposure to a variety of alcohol-containing substances or endogenous breath volatile. The article describes an unusual case of highly false-positive breath alcohol test in a motor vehicle driver caused by environmental exposure of the subject to alcohol vapour. After police investigation, it was concluded that the driver was carrying refined spirit in the vehicle the day before the roadside control and some part of spirit was spilled in the car while loading the spirit-containing barrels. This case reaffirms, that in order to exclude possible false-positive breath-alcohol analysis due environmental alcohol inhalation, blank sample of air in the motor vehicle (or any confined space) should be obligatory prior to any breath-alcohol analysis. In addition, current literature on the possibilities of false-positive results is reviewed.

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“…15,16 In a formal extension to their work, they detected significant levels of ethanol vapour in the air around the entrance to the airway during use of alcohol hand gel. 17 We also informally explored the hypothesis of breath contamination by simulating various gel application scenarios. We found that an individual could produce a positive breathalyzer result after just one gel application (data not shown) by rubbing their hands with gel close to their airway or by incidentally rubbing their face with gel on their hands.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Breath alcohol of anesthesiologists using alcohol hand gel and the “five moments for hand hygiene” in routine practice

Lindsay

Hannam

Bradfield

et al. 2016

Can J Anesth/J Can Anesth

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Assessment of exposure to ethanol vapors released during use of Alcohol-Based Hand Rubs by healthcare workers

Abstract: Ethanol concentrations were similar for these two exposure assessment methods and demonstrated a relationship between handled doses and inhaled doses. However, the ethanol vapors released during hand disinfection were safe for the healthcare workers.

Cited by 16 publications

References 28 publications

Inhalation of Alcohol Vapor: Measurement and Implications

Inhalation of Alcohol Vapor: Measurement and Implications

An unusual case of highly false-positive breath-alcohol test in a motor vehicle driver

Breath alcohol of anesthesiologists using alcohol hand gel and the “five moments for hand hygiene” in routine practice

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