Hand disinfectants

A hand sanitizer, skin antiseptic, or sanitizer is a type of disinfectant used in a healthcare environment to prevent the transmission of pathogens and to maintain basic hand hygiene in areas where a sink and soap are not available.

Supplement or alternative to hand washing with soap and water as appropriate. Available in various forms: liquid solution, gel, foam. The active ingredient in handrub can be isopropanol, ethanol, n-propanol, or povidone iodine. Adjuvants typically include a thickener such as polyacrylic acid, humectants such as glycerin as well as propylene glycol, and plant essential oils. Alcohol-based antiseptics are considered more effective at killing microorganisms than soap, and they dry out the skin of the hands less. All hand sanitizers contain alcohol, tertiary or quaternary amines, low concentrations of the nitrogenous cationic surfactant benzalkonium chloride, chlorinated aromatics triclosan, or povidone iodine.