Quality of alcohol-based hand sanitisers used for Covid-19 prevention in Masiphumelele, Cape Town

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic and other infectious diseases are still prevalent and continue to infect people across the country. It is essential to note that hand sanitisation has been proven to be the most effective way to prevent and kill infectious bacteria, especially in the wake of the devastating impact of COVID-19 in South Africa since March 2020. Maintaining good hand hygiene remains vital for preventing diseases and it is important to treat it with seriousness. Nevertheless, the increased need for hand sanitisers caused a depletion in retail markets, resulting in authorities allowing the temporary utilisation of inferior raw materials during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, some businesses were manufacturing their own formulations for alcohol-based hand Sanitisers (ABHS). This study aimed to identify the quality of alcohol-based hand sanitisers used in informal settlements around Cape Town. The primary objective of this study was to determine whether the communities emanating from poor backgrounds living within densely populated areas were using safe alcohol-based hand sanitisers. Various spaza shops around three informal settlements were visited, and hand sanitiser samples were randomly collected. The samples were examined with an Agilent Auto sampler connected to a gas chromatograph using flame ionisation detection. Approximately 76% of the ethanol samples adhered to the compliance standards, whereas 24% did not meet these standards. Isopropanol levels were compliant (≥ 70%) in only 36% of the tested samples. Alarmingly, the majority 64% of the isopropanol samples failed to comply with CDC guidelines, as they contained less than the recommended 70% isopropanol (see Figure 21). The study conclusively demonstrates that 74% of the tested hand sanitisers conform to the CDC and FDA guidelines for the recommended alcohol percentage. However, 26% of the tested samples do not meet these recommended standards, posing a health risk mitigation factor. This is due to the high demand for alcohol-based hand sanitisers that has negatively impacted their quality. It is crucial to note that these substandard hand sanitisers can lead to a falsification sense of security thus advance the risk of infections.