Comparison of 3 alcohol gels and 70% ethyl alcohol for hand hygiene.

In a laboratory study, we demonstrated that 3 alcohol-based hand gels, commercially available in Brazil, were as effective as the traditional 70% ethyl alcohol (by weight) in removing clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Serratia marcescens, and Candida albicans from heavily contaminated hands of human volunteers.