The DOI matches its Crossref record; 9 of the 9 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Is Alcohol in Hand Sanitizers Absorbed Through the Skin or Lungs? Implications for Disulfiram Treatment
Open accessAbstract
Aim: In view of the increase in the use of ethanol-containing hand sanitizers throughout the world due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, we wished to review the possible risks to patients treated with disulfiram, following a case report in which an apparent DER (disulfiram–ethanol reaction) was attributed to the cutaneous absorption of alcohol from hand sanitizers as well as by inhalation of vapour. Method: Simple experiments to assess the levels of absorption by each route separately. Results: Our results strongly suggest that while amounts of alcohol sufficient to cause a DER may be inhaled when hand sanitizers are used in confined spaces, absorption can be avoided by dispersal of the fumes, and absorption from the skin alone does not occur in pharmacologically significant quantities. Conclusion: Warnings about absorption of alcohol through the skin from hand sanitizers and products such as perfumes, deodorants and after-shave (whose use is often warned against when disulfiram is prescribed) should be modified accordingly.
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In the citing paper
“For the ethanol HS, the amount of ethanol absorbed through the skin is negligible, and the amount of ethanol inhaled by the user is only a couple of percent (Brewer and Streel 2020).”
From Hand hygiene with hand sanitizer versus handwashing: what are the planetary health consequences? (2022) · cites this paper as Brewer and Streel 2020
In the citing paper
“Thus, almost all of the ethanol in normal use (approximately 98%) is lost by evaporation into the air.”
From Hand hygiene with hand sanitizer versus handwashing: what are the planetary health consequences? (2022) · cites this paper as Brewer and Streel 2020
Citations
Cites
(2015) · doi:10.18578/bnf_147942626 · Cited by 644
Brewer, C. L. (1984) · The British Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1192/bjp.144.2.200 · Cited by 81
Self-citationInhalation of Alcohol Vapor: Measurement and Implications
MacLean, R. R., Valentine, G. W., Jatlow, P. I., & Sofuoglu, M. (2017) · Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research · doi:10.1111/acer.13291 · Cited by 61
Brown, T. L., Gamon, S., Tester, P., Martin, R., Hosking, K., Bowkett, G. C., Gerostamoulos, D., & Grayson, M. L. (2006) · Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy · doi:10.1128/aac.01320-06 · Cited by 47
Arndt, T., Schröfel, S., Güssregen, B., et al. (2014) · Forensic Science International · doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.02.007 · Cited by 45
Leeper, S. C., Almatari, A. L., Ingram, J. D., et al. (2000) · PubMed · Cited by 33
Disulfiram Ethanol Reaction in a Patient Abstinent from Alcohol Caused by Hand Sanitizing
Sousa, A. D. (2020) · Alcohol and Alcoholism · doi:10.1093/alcalc/agaa038 · Cited by 15
Newton‐Howes, G., Levack, W., McBride, S., Gilmor, M., & Tester, R. (2016) · Drug and Alcohol Dependence · doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.05.027 · Cited by 6
Ethanol Patch Test: A Simple Method for Identifying the Effectiveness of Cyanamide in Alcoholics
Yamauchi, M., Kimura, T., Takeda, K., et al. (2000) · Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research · doi:10.1111/j.1530-0277.2000.tb00010.x · Cited by 5
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Brewer, 2018, Antabuse Treatment for Alcoholism. An Evidence-Based Handbook for Medical and Non-Medical Clinicians
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Hand hygiene with hand sanitizer versus handwashing: what are the planetary health consequences?
Duane, B., Pilling, J., Saget, S., Ashley, P., Pinhas, A. R., & Lyne, A. (2022) · Environmental Science and Pollution Research · doi:10.1007/s11356-022-18918-4 · Cited by 29
“For the ethanol HS, the amount of ethanol absorbed through the skin is negligible, and the amount of ethanol inhaled by the user is only a couple of percent (Brewer and Streel 2020).”
Background
Metadata
- Authors
- Brewer, C., & Streel, E.
- Affiliations
- Retired Psychiatrist and addiction Physician, London, SE1, London, UK
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Brugmann (BE)
- Corresponding author
- Streel, Emmanuel
- Venue
- Alcohol and Alcoholism
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2020-05-13
- Volume
- 55
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 354-356
- ISSN
- 0735-0414 (ISSN-L)
- 1464-3502
- PMC
- PMC7454269
- OpenAlex
- W3025152344
- Cited by
- 28
- References
- 9
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 8
- FWCI
- 0.82
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Licence
- academic.oup.com/journals/pages/open_access/funder_policies/chorus/standard_publication_model (vor)
- Locations
- Alcohol and Alcoholism (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Dépôt institutionnel de l'Université libre de Bruxelles (Université Libre de Bruxelles) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Infection Control in Healthcare
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Emergency Medicine › Poisoning and overdose treatments
- Keywords
- disulfiram, disulfiram-ethanol reaction, hand sanitizer, ethanol absorption, percutaneous absorption, COVID-19 pandemic, alcoholism treatment
- MeSH terms
- Betacoronavirus, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Administration, Inhalation, Ethanol, Breath Tests, Disulfiram, Humans, Pneumonia, Viral, Skin Absorption, Coronavirus Infections, Pandemics, Hand Sanitizers
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