Purpose: The purpose of the present study is to evaluate in vivothe antibacterial activity of a new dry antibacterial paper, with benzalkonium chloride (BC) as an active compound, on hands of human volunteers.
Methods: The inhibitory activity of the antibacterial paper was first evaluated qualitatively on various food pathogenic bacteria using the Agar Diffusion Test and quantitatively using the AATCC 100-2004 Method. The antibacterial activity was then evaluated on human hands using the ASTM E1174 - 06 Standard Method. Finally, the safety of this antibacterial paper was evaluated by determining its potential to induce irritation and/or allergic sensitization on human hands using the Repeated Insult Patch Test.
Results: The dry antibacterial paper was shown to be active against various Gram positive and Gram negative food pathogens, including Escherichia coli and Listeria with reduction rates exceeding 99.97% after a persistence time of 30 minutes. Up to 3.24 log reduction on human hands was observed in the clinical trial with S. marcescens and E. coli. The clinical trial did not show any dermal irritation or allergic sensitization. Moreover, the potential of migration of BC from hands to water was negligible.
Significance: The antibacterial paper developed here, offers an easy and effective way to reduce bacterial contamination and transmission in the food sector. Its use will compensate for people’s imperfect hygiene practices by reducing residual bacteria left on hands after washing.