1. The Germicidal Effectiveness of Antibacterial Soap vs. an Alcohol-based Hand Sanitizer Olivia A. Patty N. Bethany E. Mara T. Group #3

2. Why? Hand washing is an important aspect of our everyday routine, especially in the routines of health care workers and micro students. Hand washing is an important aspect of our everyday routine, especially in the routines of health care workers and micro students. Compliance with hand washing helps to decrease the spread of pathogens. If the effectiveness of the hand sanitizer was better than soap and more convenient this would increase compliance with hand washing.

3. Predicted Outcome Alcohol-based hand sanitizer is more effective at removing microbes than washing with an antibacterial soap. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer is more effective at removing microbes than washing with an antibacterial soap.

4. Materials Sample size was 40 microbiology students Sample size was 40 microbiology students Blood Agar Blood Agar Sterilized cotton swabs Sterilized cotton swabs Sterilized distilled water Sterilized distilled water Generic Antibacterial Soap Generic Antibacterial Soap Purell R Purell R Distilled Water Distilled Water Incubator Incubator

5. Method Randomized assignment of hand cleanser Randomized assignment of hand cleanser Dominate hand cultured before and after contact with cleanser Dominate hand cultured before and after contact with cleanser Incubation of samples for 24-48hrs. Incubation of samples for 24-48hrs. Analysis of microbial growth. Analysis of microbial growth.

6. Results Ho: Ms/=Mp Ho: Ms/=Mp Ha: Ms=Mp Ha: Ms=Mp T value= 4.465 T value= 4.465 P value= 0.00 P value= 0.00

9. Results

10. Results What antibacterial soap results should have looked like. What antibacterial soap results should have looked like. What most Purell results actually looked like. What most Purell results actually looked like.

11. Results What antibacterial soap results actually looked like.

12. Results A Great example of a plate showing opportunistic microbes!

13. Possible Confounders Contaminated soap or paper towel Contaminated soap or paper towel Each persons’ method of hand washing was slightly different Each persons’ method of hand washing was slightly different The 2 nd swab was more saturated, therefore picked up more microbes The 2 nd swab was more saturated, therefore picked up more microbes Didn’t allow hands to dry fully Didn’t allow hands to dry fully

14. Possible Confounders Bacteria present may have been opportunistic Bacteria present may have been opportunistic Swabbing techniques differed between investigators Swabbing techniques differed between investigators Media used was optimal for bacteria growth Media used was optimal for bacteria growth Jewelry Jewelry Soap did not remove microbes Soap did not remove microbes

15. Discussion Things we would do differently. Things we would do differently. Why soap increased microbe presence Why soap increased microbe presence Taking out variables Taking out variables proper hand washing techniques Controlling confounders Controlling confounders

16. Conclusion Purell R was better at removing microbial growth than antibacterial soap Purell R was better at removing microbial growth than antibacterial soap Since Purell R performed better at removal of bacteria and is more convenient, we feel that it would increase compliance with hand washing among health care workers and students. Since Purell R performed better at removal of bacteria and is more convenient, we feel that it would increase compliance with hand washing among health care workers and students.