EFFICACY EVALUATION OF COMMERCIAL HAND SANITIZERS ON COMMON BACTERIAL PATHOGENS

MEBAAIHUN THANGKHIEW; VISHAL KUMAR MOHAN; NIRMALA AKOIJAM; SANTA RAM JOSHI

doi:10.22159/ijpps.2025v17i5.53583

Authors

MEBAAIHUN THANGKHIEW Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong-793022, India https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3736-0095
VISHAL KUMAR MOHAN Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong-793022, India https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8375-6358
NIRMALA AKOIJAM Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong-793022, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8437-6122
SANTA RAM JOSHI Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong-793022, India https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8080-484X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22159/ijpps.2025v17i5.53583

Keywords:

Sanitizers, Pathogens, MIC, MBC, SEM

Abstract

Objective: The present study aimed to check the efficiency of commercially available hand sanitisers against some identified bacterial pathogens.

Methods: An agar well diffusion experiment was used to assess the anti-bacterial effectiveness of five commercially available hand sanitisers. Bacterial growth inhibition was evaluated, and the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of each sanitiser were determined. The effects of the sanitisers on bacteria were visually examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).

Results: The agar well diffusion assay demonstrated highest inhibition of the pathogenic bacterial strains Staphylococcus aureusM96, Escherichia coliM730 and Bacillus subtilis M441 by sanitizer C1, whereas sanitizers C4, C2, and C5 showed no inhibition. Growth curve analysis of the test bacterial strains showed minimum OD when present with C3 indicating its potent anti-bacterial activity. C3 had the lowest values at 2% v/v, according to the MIC and MBC data, followed by C1, C4, and C2. Significant disruption and structural abnormalities were seen in SEM pictures of C3 and C1-treated bacterial cells.

Conclusion: Not all sanitizers that are commercially available are effective against common disease-causing bacteria or pathogens. There is an urgent need for establishment of stricter government regulations that ensures the availability of only effective sanitizers to curb the spread of communicable diseases.

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